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UNIVERSITY  OF  MASSACHUSETTS 
LIBRARY 


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u;itl7  39  aGGoapt  of 


]Y)e  Old  |^ome  pestiual, 


July  301:17,  1902. 


» >»<« 


FALL    RIVLR,   .MASS.: 

Pkkss  oI'   J.   H.   Franklin  &.-  Comi-anv 

78  Bkukoru  StreI'.i. 

1902. 


CW  JEC  \\5  now  praise  famous  men, 

'*^    BnJ>  our  tatbers  tbat  begat  we. 

Cbe  XorD  batb  wroucibt  iireat  cilorv?  b\}  tbem, 

Q;broutib  bis  iiveat  power  from  tbe  betiinninc?. 

G^bere  be  of  tbem  tbat  bave  left  a    name  bebin^  tbem. 
G;bat  tbeir  praises  micibt  be  re^■)orte^. 

Hn^  some  tbere  be  wbicb  bave  no  memorial, 

inabo  are  perisbeD  as  tbouiib  tber  baD  never  been. 

BnD  are  become  as  tbouc^b  tbeg  ba?  never  been  born, 

BnD  tbeir  ebilDren  after  tbem; 

J6ut  tbese  were  merciful  men, 

"llUbose  ricibteousness  batb  not  been  foriiotten. 

Jicc/es/iis/uus.  xliv.  /,  2,  S-10. 


Ye  Freemen's  Purchase. 

1659-1683. 


BY  PALO  ALTO   PIERCE. 


SOUTH    MAIN    STREET 


THE  purchase  of  the  four 
mile  tract  known  as  "Ye 
Freemen's  Purchase"  was 
transacted  in  1659.  The  land 
was  transferred  by  deed  from 
W  a  m  s  i  1 1  i  and  his  squaw 
Tattapanum  to  twenty  -  six 
persons  known  hereafter  as 
"original  purchasers"  in  con- 
sideration of  "twenty  coats, 
two  rugs,  two  iron  pots,  two 
kettles  and  one  little  kettle, 
eight  pair  of  shoes,  six  pair 
of  stockings,  one  dozen  of  hoes,  one  dozen  of  hatchets, 
two  yards  of  broadcloth,  and  a  debt  satisfied  to  John 
Barnes,  due  from  Wamsitti  to  the  said  Barnes,"  which  in 
in  all  probability  was  for  fire  water.  These  proprietors 
were  a  colonial  body  and  all  transactions  till  1(')8;5,  when 
the  town  was  incorporated,  were  chronicled  in  what  is 
known  as  "The  Proprietors'  Records,"  which  unfortunately 
cannot  be  found. 

In  1747  a  portion  of  Tiverton   was  annexed,  and  in 
1803  Fall  River  was  set  off. 

A  brief  history  of  the  original   purchasers  is  as  fol- 
lows (Authority —  Davis'  Landmarks  of  Plymouth): 

Of  Timothy  Foster,  the  owner  of  the  first  lot,   very 
little  can  be  learned.      Ralph  Earl,  however,  was  an  early 


settler  upon  this  lot,  and  he  was  a  son  of  William  Earl 
of  Portsmouth,  R.  I.  A  sister  of  Ralph  became  the  wife 
of  John  Borden,  who  owned  the  northerly  half  of  this  lot 
as  early  as  1T1<». 

Humphrey  Turner,  owner  of  the  second  lot,  (now  in- 
cluded in  the  City  of  Fall  River),  was  of  vScituate,  where  he 
was  constable  from  1636  to  1689.  He  was  a  representative 
to  Colonial  Court  from  1640  to  1650.  His  son  Joseph  was 
the  next  owner.  He  sold  in  1671  to  Israel  Hubbard  who 
in  turn  sold  to  Capt.  Benjamin  Church,  who  settled  thereon 
in  17(»0. 

Christopher  Wadsworth,  owner  of  the  third  lot,  to 
whom  early  records  refer  as  "Xtofer  Wadsworth,"  settled 
first  in  Duxbury.  He  was  constable  of  that  town  in  1683, 
a  selectman  in  1666,  serving  six  years,  and  a  representative 
to  Colonial  Court  in  1640,  serving  four  years.  He  died  in 
ir.77. 

Edmund  Chandler,  owner  of  the  fourth  lot,  where  the 
City  Farm  of  Fall  River  now  is,  retained  it  through  life. 
His  son  Joseph  was  the  next  owner.  He  sold  in  July  1673  to 
Henry  Brightman  of  Portsmouth,  R.  I.  Edmund  Chandler 
was  constable  of  Duxbury  in  1637  and  representative  to  Col- 
onial Court  in  1 635t .  Matthew  Boomer  was  the  first  settler  on 
this  lot  in  lt;75.  He  is  referred  to  by  colonial  record  as 
"residing  in  the  Government  without  order,  not  attending 
Public  Worship  of  (xod,  living  lonely  and  in  a  heathenish 
manner." 

Samuel  House,  owner  of  the  fifth  lot,  was  a  resident 
of  Scituate,  dying  there  in  1661.  His  sons,  Samuel  and 
Joseph,  sold,  March  2(),  1678,  to  Henry  Brightman  and 
Thomas  Cornell  of  Portsmouth,  R.  I.  The  next  year 
Cornell  sold  his  half  to  George  Lawton,  Jr.,  of  Portsmouth. 
Brightman  and  Lawton  were  the  first  settlers. 

Henry  Howdand  of  Duxbury,  owner  of  the  sixth  lot, 
did  not  occupy,  but  his  sons,  John  and  Samuel,  became 
actual  settlers.  John  died  in  1«'>n7.  Samuel  died  in  171  tl. 
Henry,  the  original  purcha.ser,  died  in  lt'>7(>. 


George  Watson,  owner  of  the  seventh  lot,  retained  the 
same  through  life,  it  descending  to  children  and  grandchild- 
ren, as  his  grandson  John  Watson  sold  his  right,  July  20, 
ITiM*..  to  Henry  Brightman. 

Ralph  Partridge  of  Duxbury,  owner  of  the  eighth  lot, 
died  before  the  deed  was  given,  and  at  the  division  in  ir.r.o 
his  heirs  received  the  lot  which  his  grandsons  Ralph  and 
Peter  Thatcher  on  Oct.  2!»,  1()!U,  conveyed  to  John  Reed, 
who  became  an  actual  settler  and  lived  thereon  till  his 
death,  Jan.  ?>,  lT2o.  Ralph  Partridge  emigrated  to  America 
in  1«')3<),  and  died  in  1058. 

Timothv  Hatherty  of  Scituate,  owner  of  the  ninth  lot, 
.sold  his  right  to  Capt.  James  Cudworth.  who  in  H'.sl  sold 
out  to  Simon  Lyndeof  Boston  from  whom  it  descended  to  his 
son  Samuel  Lynde,  al.so  of  Boston,  who  gave  it  to  his 
grandchildren,  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  Valentine.  Timothy 
Hatherty  was  Governor's  Assistant  for  many  years,  and 
Colonial  Treasurer  from  1640  to  1642. 

Love  Brewster,  owner  of  the  tenth  lot,  was  born  in 
England,  came  to  America  in  lt>2f»,  and  settled  in  Dux- 
bury,  where  he  died.  This  lot  passed  to  his  .son  Wrestling 
Brewster,  who  sold  the  southerly  half  to  John  Boyers,  who 
in  turn  sold  it  to  Edward  Thurston,  vSr.  of  Portsmouth,  R.  I., 
Oct.  ;;,  17ol>.  His  son  Thomas  .settled  thereon.  Thomas 
died  March  22,17;3<». 

Richard  Morse  of  Duxbury,  was  owner  of  the  eleventh 
lot,  but  verv  little  can  be  learned  of  him.  He  appears  as 
owner  of  a  certain  tract  of  land  in  Duxbury  called  "Eagles 
Ne.st."     Thomas  Gage  was  the  first  settler  upon  this  lot. 

Walter  Hatch  of  Scituate,  owner  of  the  twelfth  lot,  was 
the  son  of  William  Hatch,  ruling  elder  of  the  Second 
Church  of  vScituate.  His  .son  Jo.seph  was  the  next  owner, 
who  on  June  S.  1  To.")  sold  the  .same  to  Jonathan  Dodson, 
a  settler. 

Thomas  vSouthworth,  of  Plymouth,  owner  of  the 
thirteenth  lot,  came  to  America  in  \('r2s.  He  was  a 
brother  of  Constant  Southworth.  'I'homas  was  a  lieutenant 
of  militia,  commissioned    March    7,   ni4^.  and  ])romoled   to 


the  rank  of  captain  in  August,  1()5!>.  He  was  representa- 
tive from  Plymouth  three  years  to  the  Cohmial  Court  and 
Governor's  Assistant  fifteen  years.  He  died  Dec.  11,  l()t;i». 
William  Paybodie,  owner  of  the  fourteenth  lot,  ex- 
changed the  same  for  land  elsewhere.  This  lot  was  soon 
after  owned  by  Capt.  Benjamin  Church.  William  Pay- 
bodie w^as  Town  Clerk  of  Duxbury  from  ItWW;  to  1»)S4. 
He  was  representative  to  the  Colonial  Court  twenty-three 
vears.     He  was  born  Nov.  24,  1  <)!!»,  and  died  in  IToT. 


OLD    BARNABY    HOMESTEAD. 

Josiah  Winslow,  Sr.,  owner  of  the  fifteenth  lot,  was  the 
youngest  son  of  Gov.  Edward  Winslow.  Josiah  emigrated 
to  America  in  l()i>!t,  settled  at  Marshfield,  was  Town  Clerk 
of  Marshfield  in  UUO,  and  so  remained  till  his  death  in  1  <;T4. 
He  was  born  in  1605.  He  sold  this  lot  April  S,  Itw;!.  to 
William  Makepeace  of  Boston,  who  occupied  it  till  his 
death.  William  Makepeace  was  drowned  August,  1«)81. 
It  was  upon  this  lot  and  a  portion  of  the  sixteenth  lot  that 
the  reservation  to  Tabatacusen  was  made. 

6 


John  Waterman,  owner  of  the  sixteenth  lot,  was  a  son 
of  Robert  Waterman  and  his  wife  Elizabeth,  who  was  a 
daughter  of  Thomas  Bourne.  This  lot  was  next  owned  by 
Lieutenant  Job  Winslow  of  Swansea,  a  son  of  Kenelm. 
He  became  a  settler.      He  died  July  14,  17:^0. 

Samuel  Jackson  of  Plymouth,  (afterward  Scituate), 
owner  of  the  seventeenth  lot,  sold  his  right  to  William 
Randall,  who  sold  to  Nicholas  Cotterell  of  Newport,  R.  L, 
and  in  1683  and  1()90  the  most  of  this  lot  became  the  prop- 
erty of  Lieutenant  Thomas  Terry,  whose  sons  settled 
thereon. 

Nathaniel  Morton,  owner  of  the  eighteenth  lot,  sold  in 
March,  1()71,  to  John  Hathaway,  Sr.,  of  Taunton  (now 
Berkley),  whose  son,  John  Jr.,  settled  thereon.  Nathaniel 
Morton  was  the  son  of  George,  who  came  to  Plymouth  in 
1623.     Nathaniel  was  Colonial  Secretary  from  l()4-7  to  16S5. 

Constant  vSouth worth,  owner  of  the  nineteenth  lot, 
came  to  America  with  his  mother,  then  a  widow,  in  1628. 
He  settled  in  Duxbury  and  represented  that  town  in  the 
Colonial  Court  for  twenty-two  years.  He  was  Colonial 
Treasurer  from  1650  to  1670,  Governor's  Assistant  for  sev- 
eral years,  and  Commissary  General  in  King  Philip's  war. 
He  died  March  10,  1679.  The  lot  passed  to  his  children 
who  sold  in  1682  to  John  Bailey  and  Ralph  Payne,  both  of 
whom  settled  thereon,  and  the  inlet  of  Assonet  Bay,  known 
as  Payne's  Cove,  derives  its  name  from  the  latter. 

Thomas  Bourne  of  Marshfield,  owner  of  the  twentieth 
lot,  represented  his  town  in  the  Colonial  Court  in  1<!4(»-41 
and  1644.  He  died  May  1  I.  1(*»64,  aged  85  years.  The  lot 
next  was  owned  by  his  son  John,  who  gave  it  March  4,  1687, 
to  his  daughter  Anna,  wife  of  John  Bailey,  and  Martha,  wife 
of  Valentine  Decro. 

Samuel  Nash  was  owner  of  the  twenty-first  lot,  it 
being  that  on  which  the  southerly  portion  of  Assonet"^' 
is  .situated.       He  was  a  lieutenant,  and  led  a  force  against 

*Assonet  is  an  Indian  name  signifying  a  song  of  praise  according  to  the 
Rev.  Orin  Fowler  in  an  Historical  Sketch  of  Fall  River  written  in  1841. 


the   Indians  in    Aui^iist.  UU.").      lie   was  Colcniial    Marshal 
for  many  years. 

John  Barnes  of  Plvmoutli  was  cnvner  (jf  the  twentv- 
seeond  lot,  whieh  ineluded  miieh  of  the  land  on  whieh 
Assonet  Village  has  been  built.  The  south  line  of  this 
lot  corresponded  with  the  south  line  of  the  Ijurying-  ground 
opposite  the  Christian  Chureh.  The  north  line  was  prob- 
ably near  the  north  line  of  land  owned  by  the  Pickens 
estate  and  Mrs.  W.  II.  Hathaway,  a  little  south  of  Elm 
street.  From  west  to  east  it  extended  from  the  bay  four 
miles  into  the  woods.  In  August,  lt;(;(i,  John  Barnes  sold 
this  lot  to  Hugh  Cole  of  vSwansea,  and  in  KisT)  it  passed 
into  the  hands  of  Benjamin  Chase,  who  was  the  first  to 
settle  on  it.  It  is  of  interest  to  know  that  by  the  deed 
of  Itls")  all  the  meadows  along  the  river  hchnv  the  path  are 
excepted  from  sale,  showing  that  there  was  a  path  along 
the  river  corresponding  to  what  is  now  Water  Street, 
though  not  on  the  same  lines,  ever  since  the  settlement 
of  the  town.  This  is  the  John  Barnes  to  whom  Wamsitti 
became  indebted  for  sundry  articles  taken  up  at  his  shop, 
and  the  transaction  is  mentioned  in  the  deed  of  "Ve  Free- 
men's Purchase."' 

John  Tisdale  of  Marshtield,  (afterward  of  Taunton  i, 
was  owner  of  the  twenty-third  lot.  It  is  upon  this  lot 
that  a  portion  of  Assonet  Village  is  located.  He  was  a 
selectman  of  Taunton  in  H)72,  and  served  till  his  death 
in  June.  107").  He  was  a  Representative  to  the  Colonial 
Court  in  lt'.74.  He  was  killed  by  the  Indians,  his  dwelling 
burned,  and  Ids  gun  carried  away  by  them,  to  be  recov- 
ered at  Rehoboth,  Aug.  1,  U)7r).  His  son  Joshua  .settled 
upon  this  lot  and  died  thereon  about  1714.  The  high  rock 
east  of  Assonet  station  was  upon  this  lot  and  hence  has 
been  known  as  Joshua's  Mountain.  The  north  half  of  this 
lot  was  at  one  time  owned  by  (xcorge  Winslow,  through 
his  wife  I'^lizabeth.  who  was  the  daughter  of  Joshua  Tis- 
dale.      He   deeded   the   same    May    li',    17-11,    to   Barnabas 

Tisdale.      (See  Register  31 -<)<»). 

s 


OLD    MAN    OF    JOSHUA'S    MOUNTAIN, 
ASSONET,    MASS 


K  e  n  e  1  m  W  i  n  s  1  o  w, 
owner  of  the  twenty- 
fourth  lot,  was  a  brother 
of  Gov.  Edward  Winslow 
and  came  to  America  in 
lt>2!).  He  was  a  son  of 
Edward  Winslow  and 
wife  ^Magdaline  Ollyver 
of  Droit wich,  England, 
and  was  born  April  '2\^, 
loO'.i.  He  removed  to 
]\Iarshfield  about  1<')41, 
thence  to  Freetown  about 
1»)59.  He  died  at  Salem 
Sept.  13,  Uu'2,  aged  73 
years.  This  lot  was  set- 
tled by  Nathaniel,  son  of 
Kenelm,  and  Josiah.  a 
grandson.  Nathaniel  did  not  long  remain,  but  Josiah 
continued  to  reside  thereon  till  his  death,  April  3,  ITf.l. 
He  was  born  Nov.  7,  Kltiii. 

James  Cudworth.  owner  of  the  twenty-fifth  lot,  was 
born  about  l(ili>.  He  was  a  son  of  Rev.  Ralph  Cudworth. 
and  brother  of  Rev.  Ralph  Cudworth,  D.  D.,  author  of 
"The  Intellectual  System  of  the  Universe."  He  came  to 
Plymouth  in  lti34,  but  removed  to  Scituate,  where  he  held 
office,  both  civil  and  military.  He  was  Governor's  Assist- 
ant for  several  years,  and  in  l<),sl  was  Deputy  (Tovernor 
of  Plymouth  Colony.  He  was  at  one  time  Commander- 
in-Chief  of  the  ccMiibined  forces  of  Massachusetts  and 
Plymouth  Colonies.  He  was  sent  to  England  to  transact 
business  for  Plymouth  Colony,  and  while  there  died  of  small 
pox,  aged  7<>  vears.  His  grandson  James  settled  upon  his 
purchase.  He  was  born  April  3,  K'.C.,"),  and  died  about  172'.». 
John  Damon  of  Scituate  was  owner  of  the  twenty- 
sixth  lot.  He  represented  his  town  in  the  Colonial  Court 
inlt')7.5and    HmC.      He  died  June,   lil77.      This  lot   passed 


tt)  his  heirs,  who  in  17l;>  and  1714  sold  to  Timothy  Lindall 
of  Boston,  who  caused  it  to  be  settled  upon.  It  remained 
in  the  Lindall  family  till  the  War  of  the  Revolution. 


In  1»'>S;^)  Freetown  ceased  to  be  proprietary  and  became 
a  town  corporate.  The  earliest  record  occurs  in  los.j,  the 
two  missing  years  probably  being  entered  in  the  old  Pro- 
prietors'  Records,  which  are  lost. 


10 


Freetown,  Mass 

1683-1780. 


BY  GILBERT   M.   NICHOLS. 


nC)T  much  of  community  affairs  or  of  dealings  between 
town  and  town  would  appear  in  the  early  history  of  New- 
England  settlements,  and  the  story  of  the  first  hundred 
years  must  tell  of  the  people  and  their  privations,  and  of 
the  individual  battle  for  existence.  With  the  wild  beast 
and  unsleeping  savage  prowling  about  their  dwellings  or 
waylaying  them  in  the  daily  path  of  duty,  even  in  the 
fields  where  they  compelled  the  resisting  soil  to  yield  up 
to  them  its  scanty  store,  the  pioneers  of  our  independence 
and  pride  early  learned  the  price  of  lite  itself.  Little  of 
historic  importance  seemed  to  be  happening  among  these 
bleak  and  barren  hills  where  the  settlers  were  grimly 
struggling  for  a  foothold  ;  yet  through  faith  that  kept  them 
brave,  and  strife  that  made  them  strong,  by  unremitting 
vigilance  and  toil  and  well-earned  victories,  they  were 
laying  deep  the  foundations  of  New  England  character, 
whereon  their  posterity  might  safely  build  the  beautiful 
and  the  enduring  in  that  "  self-reverence,  self-knowledge, 
self-control,"  which  alone  could  lead  them  to  the 
*'  sovereign  power"  that  was  their  destiny. 

The  ambition  of  our  forefathers  was  not  the  winning 
of  great  possessions  nor  the  nice  observance  of  proprieties. 
Their  problem  was  how  and  where  best  with  axe  and  gun 
to  subjugate  a  wilderness,    make  a   home    and    rear    the 

11 


family  of  ten  or  a  dozen  children,  sound  in  wind  and  limb, 
resourceful,  resolute  and  stronw'  to  stand  alone.  The 
conditions  of  those  times  would  not  tolerate  a  leisure  class 
nor  admit  of  eight-hour  agitations.  The  labor  days  were 
long  and  the  holidays  were  few.  when  every  household 
had  to  supply  its  own  requirements.  Neighbors  would 
unite  their  strength  to  raise  the  frame  of  barn  or  dwelling, 
which  was  built  near  some  perennial  spring  not  too  far 
from  the  "  trail,"  and  out  of  native  timber  the  furnishings 
were  hewn,  plain,  substantial,  like  themselves,  made  for 
use  and  warranted  to  last  for  generations.  In  winter  the 
men  were  employed  in  cutting  aw^ay  the  woods  and 
clearing  the  land  for  planting,  or  they  were  threshing  out 
the  wheat  and  rye  with  flails  on  frosty  mornings.  Huge 
stacks  of  wood  were  thrown  up  near  the  house  to  feed  the 
great  open  fire  that  was  kept  blazing  on  the  ample  hearth, 
whereto  every  morning  the  green  oak  back-log  was  rolled, 
and  the  shining  andirons  set  before.  When  not  too 
blustering  and  cold,  they  used  to  haul  loose-lying 
boulders  from  field  or  woodland,  and  enclose  the  clearings 
with  those  same  walls  which,  now  in  ruins,  are  become  the 
boundary  lines  of  pathless  woods  once  more,  or  only  serve 
to  mark  the  industry  of  the  settlers  in  those  days  when 
sheep  and  cattle  roamed  at  large  through  all  the  woods,  and 
their  divers  "  (y)earmarks  "  became  matter  of  record  more 
voluminous  than  all  else,  excepting  only  the  data  of  town 
meetings.  In  late  autumn  and  early  spring,  the  neighbor- 
ing teams  of  oxen  were  yoked  to  the  long-beamed,  iron- 
shod  wooden  plow,  and  the  land  that  had  been  cleared  of 
timber  and  underbrush  by  axe  and  fire  and  made  fertile  by 
the  ashes,  was  broken  up  and  roughly  prepared  for 
potatoes  or  corn,  which  was  soon  to  be  seen  /ig/'agging 
among  the  blackened  stumps,  yet  thriving  as  if  in  a 
garden,  quite  free  from  weeds  and  insect  enemies.  Much 
of  the  winter  forage  for  stock  was  gathered  from  natural 
meadows  and  marsh  lands,  and  here  in  summer  time  the 
swishing  scythes  were  glancing  in  the  early  morning,  and 

12 


the  "  whinney-whet  "  of  the  mower's  rifle  inin^-led  pleas- 
antly with  the  plover's  mellow  note,  while  even  the  lonely 
bittern  listened  nnalarmed. 

What  the  women  did  in  those  days  was  of  no  less 
importance,  and  as  each  family  kept  sheep  upon  the  hill- 
side, so  each  housewife  spun  the  yarn,  wove  the  cloth  and 
fashioned  garments  for  her  household.  Some  sunny  day 
in  spring,  after  the  May  storm  had  blown  over,  the  sheep 
were  washed  and  sheared,  and  the  wool  picked  apart — this 
last  task  very  often  given  to  the  small  boys  and  girls. 
The  next  procedure  was  carding  the  wool  into  rolls,  and 
for  this  two  hand  cards  were  employed.  With  the  wool 
placed  on  one  of  them,  the  Colonial  dame  carded  it  with 
the  other  till  it  was  entirely  transferred  from  the  first  to 
the  second.  This  process  was  repeated  as  many  times  as 
in  her  judgment  was  necessary,  when  she  made  the  wool 
into  rolls  about  a  foot  long,  and  then  it  was  readv  for  the 
spinning  wheel.  A  pretty  picture  was  that  of  the  Puritan 
maiden 

"Seated  beside  her  wheel,  and  the  carded  wool  like  a  snow-drift. 
Piled  at  her  knee,  her  white  hands  feeding  the  ravenous  spindle, 
While  with  her  foot  on  the  treadle  she  guided  the  wheel  in  its  motion." 

But  we  are  told  by  one  who  remembers  her  grand- 
mother's method  that  she  always  stood,  and  walked  back  and 
f(jrth  at  her  spinning.  As  she  walked  awav  from  her  wheel 
the  thread  spun  out  and  was  twisted;  as  she  returned,  the 
yarn  was  wound  on  the  spindle,  and  so  she  continued 
walking  backward  and  forward  till  the  s])inning  was  done. 
The  hand  loom  was  next  brought  into  use,  and  the  varn  was 
woven  into  cloth.  If  intended  for  blankets  or  underwear, 
the  wool  was  left  its  natural  color;  but  if  designed  for  outer 
garments  for  clothing  the  family,  then  it  was  dyed  a 
beautiful  or  (lesiral)le  hue  with  the  bark  of  \-arious  trees, 
the  leaves  of  the  peach  or  mosses  gathered  from  the  rocks. 
Peach  leaves  made  a  pleasing  shade  of  yellow,  while  the 
stain  derived  from  moss  was  a  bright  brown. 

13 


Early  in  the  eit^'htcenth  centurv  the  town,  recoj^'nizini^ 
its  community  interests,  hired  a  minister  of  the  t^'ospel, 
and  also  opened  a  school  for  the  children,  albeit  their  free- 
born  spirits  ill  might  brook  the  formalities  and  limitations 
which  church  usage  of  the  times  would  force  upon  them. 
But  before  church  or  school  had  been  established,  even 
from  the  time  of  the  town's  incorporation,  the  citizens  had 
assembled  at  convenient  places  for  the  choice  of  such 
officers  as  should  serve  them,  and  for  sober  consideration 
of  questions  of  common  interest.  They  had  gathered 
about  the  great  heirloom  of  their  Anglo-Saxon  ancestry, 
worth  more  to  them  than  school  or  ritual,  and  in  recogni- 
tion of  the  rights  of  the  people,  in  veneration  of  order  and 
law,  they  had  held  their  tox^ni  meetings.  In  most  communi- 
ties the  meeting-house  of  the  church  was  made  the  moot- 
house  of  the  town,  but  it  was  the  "  middle  schoolhouse  " 
(near  the  bleachery  of  to-day)  that  sheltered  the  legal 
voters  of  Freetown  through  the  stormy  town-meeting- 
times  of  old.  There,  where  they  had  learned  to  read,  they 
were  called  upon  to  reason,  and  there  these  "children  of 
a  larger  growth  "  were  "  warned  "  again  to  gather  where 
they  might  give  and  take  post-graduate  courses  in  matters 
pertaining  to  the  public  weal,  and  learn  decision,  assertion, 
and  withal,  submission  to  the  will  of  a  majority — until  the 
next  spring  meeting.  Every  question  of  common  interest 
was  submitted  to  this  most  absolute  of  bodies,  and 
thoroughly  discussed,  with  many  adjournments  it  may  be, 
until  sooner  or  later,  for  better  or  for  worse,  it  was  settled 
by  the  will  of  the  majority.  Every  record  in  the  old 
books  might  tell  its  story  of  a  battlefield  of  wit  and 
tongue,  where,  as  likely  as  not  (and  is  not  human  nature 
still  the  same?),  the  victors  in  the  contest  over  election  of 
selectmen  celebrated  their  victory  by  making  the  defeated 
candidate  tlicir  hou-reeve,  and  he  had  to  serve. 

But  the  citizens  of  Freetown  earl\-  learned  to  look 
outside  the  limits  of  their  own  little  communitv.  and  we 
find  them  in  IBOO  giving  serious  consideration  to  the  well- 

14 


being  of  the  colonies  as  a  whole.  No  doubt  they  were 
much  indebted  to  the  Great  and  General  Court  for  the 
suggestion,  but  we  find  them  raising  the  banner  of 
patriotism  and  joining  in  the  sentiment  of  the  English 
right  to  rule,  during  the  campaign  against  the  Canadian 
French  in  that  year. 

Not  many  men  were  required  of  them  at  first,  nor  any 
great  amount  of  muniticms  of  war,  but  there  appears 
anion  or  other  charo'es  a'j^ainst  the  town   in  that  year:      To 


HOME    OF    COL     THOMAS    GILBERT, 


one  pair  ])umps  for  Tarlxi  Car\-,  :">  shillings  •'.  pence;  to 
clock  for  Tarbo  Car\-'s  snapsack.  .'>  shillings;  to  cash  paid 
for  Thomas  Traintor's  musket,  1  pound  <i  shillings,  and 
another  charge  of  "  "J  shillings  for  mending  the  country's 
gunn,"  which  one  of  the  two  recruits  was  to  carrv  through 
the  privations  and  dangers  of  King  William's  war.  From 
this  time  on,  as  occasion  required,  Freetown  failed  not  to 
furnish  her  (piota  of  soldiers  and  supplies. 

15 


Through  the  French  and  Indian  War  the  honor  of  this 
section  was  well  sustained  by  Thomas  Gilbert.  In  174.'">, 
as  captain  of  a  companv,  presumably  from  his  own  neit^'li- 
borhood,  he  shared  in  the  glory  of  the  Louisburg  cam- 
paign, wliere  the  small  force  under  vSir  William  Pepperell 
besieged  and  captured  the  notorious  fortress  which  had 
sheltered  the  enemies  of  our  fishing  industry  in  northern 
waters  for  so  many  years. 

In  IT."),")  the  same  soldier,  serving  as  lieutenant- 
colonel,  is  known  to  have  been  with  the  victorious  forces 
at  Crown  Point,  and  later,  in  the  battle  of  Lake  George, 
when  his  senior  officer  was  killed,  he  took  command  of  the 
regiment.  Gilbert  afterward  became  prominent  as  the 
leader  of  the  Loyalists  in  southern  New  England. 

The  war  cloud  of  the  Revolution  was  now  gathering 
on  the  horizon,  and  the  far-sighted  of  the  colonists  were 
preparing  for  the  storm,  a  history  of  which  comes  down 
to  us  largely  by  old  tradition  and  grandmother's  tales  of 
"Whig  and  Torv  times."  From  all  sources  it  appears 
that  the  people  were  wide-awake  to  the  great  subject  of 
government,  tlK^igh  bitterly  divided  on  the  question  at 
issue.  In  that  part  of  our  town  annexed  to  us  from 
Tiverton  in  IT+T,  and  still  known  as  New  Freetown,  a 
company  of  minutemen  were  training,  under  Captain 
Levi  Rounseville,  and  making  ready  for  the  call  that 
wt)uld  soon  be  sounded  in  the  "  Lexington  Alarm.'" 
Southward  the  dozen  households  located  along  the  plung- 
ing yuequechan  were  watchful  and  brave,  liberty  men  all, 
who,  later  in  the  conflict,  proved  themselves  competent  to 
defend  their  own  against  the  marines  of  England.  Pnit 
while  the  southern  and  eastern  portions  of  the  town  were 
preparing  to  contest  the  rule  of  the  mother  country,  the 
village  of  A.ssonet.  under  the  master  spirit  of  old  Colonel 
Gilbert,  held  lowd  to  the  crown,  as  appears  from  the  adop- 
tion of  the  following  resolutions  relative  to  the  destruction 
of  tea  in  Poston  harbor: 


16 


Province  of  ve  Massachusetts  Bay, 

January,    1TT4-. 
Bristol,   ss. 

At  a  Legal  Town  meeting  at  Freetown,  in  sd.  County,  on 
Monday,  ye  iTth  day  of  Instant,  A.  D.,  1774,  on  purpose  to 
know  ye  minds  of  sd.  inhabitants  of  sd.  Town  Respecting  a 
Body  of  People  Assembling  together  at  Boston  on  ye  Sixteenth 
Day  of  December  last  past,  and  then  Destroying  342  Chests  of 
Tea,  Capt.  George  Chase,  Moderator  of  sd.  Meeting,  after 
sum  Debates  and  Duely  Considering  ye  bad  Consequences 
which  probably  may  arise  from  ye  proceeding  of  sd.  Body,  the 
Question  was  put  wether  ye  Town  would  act  on  ye  affare,  and 
it  passed  in  ye  Affirmative,  then  ye  Town  made  Choice  of 
Thomas  Gilbert,  Abiel  Terry,  James  Winslow,  Esqrs. ,  Capt. 
Jael  Hathaway  and  Doc'r  Bullock  a  Committee  to  Draw  up 
sum  Votes  and  Resolves  Respecting  ye  Destroying  sd.  Tea, 
and  lay  ye  same  before  this  meeting  on  Wednesday,  ye  2tjth 
Day  of  this  month,  at  Eleven  of  ye  Clock  in  ye  forenoon,  then 
ye  meeting  was  Ajornd,  and  ye  Committee  Resold  ye  following 
Resolves,  viz: 

1st — That  it  is  ye  Duty  of  this  Town  at  this  time  to  Express 
our  Sentiments  in  Matters  which  so  nearly  Concern  us  more 
spedely,  as  there  seams  to  be  Reason  to  fear  there  is  a  Spirit  of 
Anarchy,  Disorder  and  Confusion  prevailing  in  sum  parts  of 
this  Province. 

2nd—Ri-so/7Y/,  That  ye  Body  of  People  at  Boston  on  ye 
1  6th  Day  of  December  last,  taking  upon  themselves  the  Stile 
and  Appelation  of  a  Body  of  People  who  did  not  Indeavor  to 
prevent  a  number  of  people  (in  Indian  Dress  or  Disguise)  from 
acting  there  Savage  Nature  in  ye  Destruction  of  ye  Tea 
aforesd,  as  we  Apprehend,  was  not  doeing  there  Duety,  but  was 
Contrary  to  Law,  and  we  fear  will  bring  upon  us  the 
\'engeance  of  an  Affronted  Majesty,  and  also  plunge  us  in  Debt 
and  Misery  when  ye  Injured  owners  of  sd.  Tea  shall  make 
there  Demand  for  ye  \'allue  of  ye  Same. 

:3rd — Resolvd,  That  this  Town  do  hereby  Declare  that  we 
Abhor,  Detest  and  for  Ever  bare  our  Testimony  against  the 
proceedings  of  ye  Body  and  Indians  aforesd,  or  any  others  who 

17 


have  or  shall  act  in  any  Riotous  manner,  it  being  so  very  Con- 
terary  to  ye  Spirit  of  our  Laws  and  ye  Liberty  of  ye  People. 

4th^ — Resohd,  That  Thomas  Gilbert,  Esqr. ,  our  present 
Representative  Doe,  and  he  is  hereby  instructed  to  use  his 
utmost  Indeavor  as  a  Member  of  ye  Hon.  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives, that  sum  Effectual  means,  if  possible,  be  Taken  to 
prevent  for  ye  futer  all  such  Riotous  and  Mobish  proceedings, 
and  if  Demand  shall  be  made  by  ye  owners  of  sd.  Tea  for  ye 
Damage  done  them  by  ye  Body  or  Indians  aforesd,  that  he 
appear,  use  his  Indeavor,  and  Vote  against  any  part  thereof 
being  paid  by  us  who  are  so  Innocent  of  ye  Destroying  ye  same  . 

5th — ]'oted.  That  these  Votes  and  Resolves  be  farely 
Recorded  in  ye  Town  Book,  and  a  Copy  thereof  be  Trans- 
mitted to  ye  Press,  that  ye  World  may  know  our  minds 
Respecting  our  libertys  and  Good  Government,  and  ye  Resolu- 
tions we  have  to  obey  ye  good  Laws  of  our  land,  which  under 
God  for  so  long  this  Province  have  been  happy  in  ye  Injoy- 
ment  of. 

Thomas  Gilbert, 
Abiel  Terry, 
James  Winslow, 
Jail   Haihaway, 
Jesse  Bullock.. 
This  is  a  True  Record  by  me. 

Zebedee  Terry, 

Town   Clerk. 

Evidently  the  village  of  A.s.sonet  was  a  Tory  strong- 
hold. Here  early  in  1775,  by  direction  of  General  Gage 
at  Bo-ston,  Colonel  Gilbert  had  stored  considerable  quanti- 
ties of  war  material,  and  marshalled  three  hundred  men  of 
Bristol  County  for  the  purpose  of  quelling  the  insurrection 
in  this  section.  But  the  Whig  towns  of  the  county  mus- 
tered their  forces,  and  marched  them  tw^o  thousand  strong 
upon  the  "detested"  village,  dispersed  the  Tory  battalion 
and  compelled  its  leaders  to  seek  safety  in  flight.  This 
demonstration  occurred  a  week  or  more  before  the  battles 
of    Lexington  and    Concord.       The    "  Es.se x    Gazette,"    a 

18 


newspaper  published  in  Salem,  in  its  issue  of  April  18th, 
1775,  contained  the  following  communication: 

"Boston.  Monday,  April  17th. 
A  letter  from  Taunton,  dated  last  Friday,  men- 
tioned that  on  the  Monday  before  parties  of  minutemen 
from  every  town  in  that  county,  with  arms  and  ammuni- 
tion, met  at  Freetown  early  that  morning,  in  order  to  take 
Colonel  Gilbert,  but  he  had  fled  on  board  the  man-of-war 
at    Newport.      Thev   then   divided   into  parties,   and  took 


WINSLOW    HOUSE,    BUILT    IN    1706 


twentv-nine  Tories  who  had  signed  enlistments  and 
received  arms  in  the  colonel's  company  to  join  the  King's 
troops.  The)'  also  took  thirty-five  muskets,  two  case 
bottles  of  powder  and  a  basket  of  bullets,  which  they 
brought  to  Taunton.  There  were  upwards  of  two  thou- 
sand men  embodied  there  last  Monday." 

In  one  of  their  incursions  into  Freetown  the   Whigs 
sei/.ed  upon  Colonel  (lilbert's  son-in-law.    I'^phraim    Wins- 

19 


low,  Esq.,  who,  so  far  from  being  a  violent  partisan  in  the 
quarrel,  was  more  interested  in  settling  disputes  and  main- 
taining peace  in  the  community.  However,  by  virtue  of 
his  connection  with  the  old  Tory  chieftain,  he  was  identi- 
fied with  the  Loyalists,  and  was  clearly  a  subject  for  the 
visitation  of  Whig  wrath. 

Thrusting  their  bayonets  into  every  nook  and  corner 
of  his  dwelling  (which  still  stands,  the  oldest  house  in 
town)  the  Whigs  discovered  Esq.  Ephraim  hidden  away 
in  the  large,  old-fashioned  brick  oven,  in  the  ashes  of 
humiliation.  After  subjecting  the  non-resisting  man  to 
many  indignities,  they  set  him  on  a  horse,  "hind  side 
before,"  and  started  with  him  for  Taunton  jail.  Col. 
Gilbert,  returning  from  Newport,  and  learning  of  the 
affair,  set  out  after  thein  at  full  gallop,  with  black 
Pompey,  his  slave  and  faithful  attendant,  following  with 
extra  pistols  "under  his  arms."  To  show  the  great 
respect  and  awe  which  the  whole  country  hereabout  felt  for 
the  old  soldier,  it  was  reported  on  this  occasion  that  when 
Col.  Oilbert  came  up  with  the  marauders,  he  rode  directly 
among  them,  laid  his  hand  on  Winslow's  shoulder  and 
said:  "  Ephraim,  what  are  you  doing  here  ?  Start  your- 
self home."  And  home  he  went,  leaving  the  astonished 
Whigs  gazing  after  him. 

Most  of  the  older,  more  wealthy  and  influential  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Assonet  were  conservative  in  the  agitation 
for  independence,  being  unwilling  to  risk  their  property 
and  social  position,  or.  in  their  old  age,  incapable  of  shift- 
ing their  allegiance  from  a  recognized  authority,  under 
which  they  had  prospered,  to  untried  laws  and  the  chances 
of  rc\-oliition.  .\s  they  were  true  to  their  convictions, 
history  will  not  reproach  them,  and  their  townsmen  of 
to-day  should  not  suft'cr  their  names  to  be  dishonored; 
neither  let  them  lightly  censure  him,  of  all  Tories  most 
notorious,  whose  faithfulness  to  trust  was  held  to  consti- 
tute a  crime.  I"^)r  his  allegiance,  that  seemed  withheld 
from  his  country,  yet  was  not  given  to  a  King. 

20 


The  order  of  established  law  was  his  divinity,  and 
before  no  other  throne  did  his  manly  spirit  bow.  That 
law  whieh.  in  no  small  measure,  he  had  helped  to  frame, 
should  he  not  conform  to  it  ?  and  "  that  same  good  law  by 
which,  under  (rod.  [he]  had  been  bles.sed  and  happy," 
under  which  he  had  served  so  faithfully  and  conspic- 
uously for  so  many  years — should  he  renounce  it  now? 
Because,  in  some  evil  hour,  the  law  had  been  unwisely 
directed,  or  in  foolishness  enforced — would  he  now  turn 
traitor  to  that  law?  Xo !  rather  would  he  shake  the  dust 
from  off  his  feet,  leave  his  kindred  behind  him,  and  the 
countrv  that  he  had  loved  more  than  they  all,  and,  flying 
unto  regions  far  remote,  and  strange,  and  wild,  dwell 
there,  'tis  said,  "in  peace  for  twenty  years," — dwell  there, 
indeed,  but  never  live  again. 

After  the  eviction  of  the  Tory  leaders,  the  Whigs 
came  into  power,  and  the  town  sustained  its  part  in  the 
prosecution  of  the  war. 

On  Februarv  "ioth,  lT7t'>,  a  meeting  was  called  in  His 
Maiestv's  name,  which  met  March  4th,  and  chose  a  Com- 
mittee of  Correspondence,  Inspection  and  Safety,  and  voted 
to  build  boats  "to  cross  the  water  in  if  our  enemies 
should  attack  our  friends  on  the  other  shore"' — of  Taunton 
River.      The  committee  chosen  were: 

SiKiMiKN  Borden,  Bkmamin   Rki:i>. 

[oXATIIAN    RkKD.  PlIII.ll'    HaIIH.W  A\. 

Samiki.  Bar\aii\,  Major   Xokton. 

AiJNKK   Wixsi.ow.  Xaiiiamii,    MmRIOX, 

CaI'I.     LlA  I     RolNSlA  II.l.K. 

The   following    Declaration   of    Independence   in   this 
same  vear   shows  how   much  the  spirit  of  the  town   had 
changed  in  the  short  time  since  the  days  of  the  "  Boston 
Tea  Party :" 
Bristol,   ss. 

These,  are,  in  ye  Name  of  ye  governor  and  people  of  ye 
Colony  of  ye  Massachusetts,  to  notify  and  warn  ye  freeholders 

21 


and  other  inhabitants  of  Freetown  to  assemble  and  meet 
together  at  our  publick  meeting-house  ye  loth  of  this  instant 
July,  at  'Z  o'clock  P.  M.,  then  and  there  to  chuse  a  moderator, 
also  to  act  what  ye  Town  vShall  then  think  proper  in  respect  to 
Giving  our  Deputy  instructions  to  act  in  the  general  Court  in 
regard  to  these  Colonyes  being  Decld  Independent. 

Dated  at  Freetown,  July  ye  2nd,  ITTO. 

Stephen   Borden,     ] 

JoNN.   Read,  (       Selectmen  of 


Sam'l   Barnabv, 
Abnek  Winslovv, 


Freetown. 


Persuant  to  ye  above  warrant  met  and  made  Choyce  of 
Mr.  Stephen  Borden  moderator.  Then  Chose  a  Comite,  mager 
Joshua  Hatheway,  Col.  James  Winslow,  John  Hatheway,  to 
Draw  up  instructions  for  our  Deputy.  They  accordingly  Drew 
up  and  brought  in  ye  following  ones: 

Whereas,  George,  the  Third,  King  of  Create  Britain,  in 
Violation  of  ye  Principles  of  British  Constitution  and  of  the 
Laws  of  Justice  and  humanity,  Hath,  by  an  accumulation  of 
oppressions  unpariled  in  history,  excluded  ye  Inhabitants  of 
this  as  well  as  ye  other  neighboring  Collones  from  his  Protec- 
tion ;  and  whereas,  he  hath  paid  no  regarde  to  any  of  our  Remon- 
strances and  Dutefull  petitions  for  redress  of  our  Complicated 
Grevinces,  but  hath  purchased  foreign  Troops  to  asist  in 
Enslaving  us  and  Enciteed  ye  Savages  of  this  Countery  to 
Carry  on  a  war  against  us,  as  also  ye  Negroes,  to  imbru  their 
hands  in  ye  Blood  of  their  masters  in  a  manner  unpractised  by 
Civilized  Nations,  and  moreover  hath  Lately  insulted  our 
Calematyes  by  Declaring  that  he  will  have  no  mercey  on  us 
till  he  hath  Subdued  us;  and,  whereas,  the  obligations  of 
alegence  being  reciprocal  between  ye  King  and  his  subjects, 
are  now  dissolved  on  ye  side  of  ye  CoUonies  by  ye  Dispotism 
and  Declaration  of  ye  King,  insomuch  that  Loyalty  to  him  is 
Treason  against  the  good  people  of  this  Countery ;  and,  whereas, 
not  only  ye  parliment.  But  there  is  (xreat  reason  to  beleave  Too 
many  of  ye  people  of  Great  Britain  have  concured  in  ye  aforesd 
arbitrary  and  unjust  proceedings  Against  us;  and,  whereas,  the 

22 


Publick  Virtue  of  this  Collony,  so  esential  to  its  Liberty  and 
happiness  must  be  indangered  by  a  futer  political  union  with, 
or  Dependence  on,  a  Crown  and  nation  so  lost  to  patriotism  and 
magnanimity;  We,  the  Inhabitants  of  Freetown,  in  publick 
Town  meeting  assemble,  for  giving  instructions  to  our  repre- 
sentetive  by  Direction  from  ye  general  Court,  Do  in  publick 
Town  meeting  Vote  and  declare,  and  Direct  our  representetive 
to  Declare  in  ye  general  Court  that  we  are  ready  with  our 
Lives  and  fortunes  To  Support  the  General  Congress  in  Declar- 
ing the  united  american  Colonies  free  and  independent  of 
Create  Britain,  and  also  Direct  our  said  representetive  to  move 
in  the  General  Court  for  ye  Delegates  for  this  Colony  to  be 
Directed  to  move  for,  and  give  votes  for,  said  Independence, 
provided,  that  the  internal  police  of  this  Government  Be 
allwaise  left  to  the  people  of  the  said  Colony,  and  we  declare  to 
all  ye  world  that  we  do  not  make  this  Declaration  out  of  pride 
or  Envy,  but  By  the  Dictates  of  the  Laws  of  Nature,  and 
appeal  to  ye  Supreme  Governor  of  the  world  for  our  Sincerity 
in  the  Declaration. 

The  above  instructions  was  Voted,  and  the  meeting  was 
Dissolved. 

But  the  town  is  not  rid  of  all  its  Tories  yet.  as  seen  by 
the  list  of  names  voted  for  trial  on  ]May  ;51st,  1777: 
George  Brightman,  William  Winslow,  Luther  Winslow,  John 
Winslow,  Jael  Hatheway,  Solomon  Terry,  Abiel  Terry,  Abiel 
Terry,  Jr.,  William  Hatheway,  Silas  Hatheway,  -^nd,  Silas 
Terry,  Ebenezer  Terry,  Benjamin  Thompkins,  Ralph  Pain,  -^nd, 
George  Chace,  (reorge  Chace,  Jr.,  Bradford  Gilbert,  Ephraim 
Wmslow,  Ammi  Chace,  Horah  Durfee,  Jonathan  Dodson,  Job 
Terry,  Silas  Sherman  and  Benjamin  Cleveland,  Abraham 
Ashley  and  John  Briggs.  Major  Joshua  Hatheway  chosen 
agent,  in  behalf  of  town. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  town  May  22nd,  17S(),  to  consider  and 
to  take  action  in  regard  to  form  of  government  sent  out  from 
the  conventions  of  this  State,  the  following  were  chosen  a  com- 
mittee: John  Hatheway,  2nd,  William  Winslow,  Amos  Snell, 
George  Winslow,  Philip  Hatheway,  Jr.,  Benjamin  Reed,  Joseph 
Norton,  Peter  Crapo  and  David  Durfee.  Reported  (and 
adopted)  as  follows: 

23 


We,  the  committee,  being  chosen  by  the  town  of  Free- 
town, in  the  County  of  Bristol,  at  a  public  town  meeting  held 
on  May  22nd  inst.,  to  inspect  into  the  form  of  government  that 
was  laid  before  us,  have  met  together  this  27th  of  May  inst., 
and  do  conclude  and  make  over  report  to  the  town  meeting  that 
stands  adjourned  from  May  22nd  to  this  day,  as  follows: 

That,  taking  ye  form  of  government  into  consideration, 
we  do  find  articles  appear  inconsistent  to  that  liberty  that  we 
have  been  contending  for,  namely:  The  third  Article  in  the 
declaration  of  Rights  for  one  the  power  of  the  Governor,  for 
2nd  the  power  invested  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  for 
3rd  the  manner  of  laying  excises  or  duties  on  Manufactories; 
lastly,  and  we  do  finalh^  give  it  as  our  opinion  that  it  is  better 
for  us  to  be  under  the  same  form  of  government  as  we  have 
held  to  ever  since  the  commencement  of  this  war  until  this 
unhappy  contest  is  decided. 

Thirty  votes  for  and  sixteen  votes  against  above  report. 


'J4 


Slave  Trade  in  Freetown. 


'7T1'  the  beginning  of  Freetown's  history  the  slave  trade 
j  ^  between  New  England  and  the  West  Indies  had 
become  thoroughly  established,  increasing  yearly  in  its 
activities,  with  Newport  as  the  chief  market  place. 

"  This  trade  was  conducted  in  sloops,  brigantines  and 
schooners,  usually  of  forty  or  fifty  tons.  They  carried 
small  crews  —  the  captain,  two  mates  and  six  men,  often 
including  a  cooper  who  set  up  barrels  and  casks.  Taunton 
staves  and  Narragansett  hoops  were  in  much  demand  for 
this  work.  White  oak  staves  went  into  rum  casks,  and 
red  oak  into  sugar  hogsheads.  The  average  price  of 
slaves  was  from  thirty  to  thirty-five  pounds  per  head." 

After  the  Indian  wars  were  ended,  and  opportunity 
was  afforded  for  cultivating  the  arts  of  peace,  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Freetown  became  largely  interested  in  shipping 
industries,  opening  thereby  commercial  relations  with 
various  ports  and  markets,  and  in  a  few  years  the  sign  of 
"  W.  I.  Goods"  was  displayed  on  the  village  stores,  which 
were  more  numerous  in  former  times  than  at  present. 

At  that  period  slaverv  was  countenanced  by  all 
classes  in  churcli  and  state,  and  "negro  bo\-s  and  girls" 
were  purchased  on  the  same  basis  of  utility  as  sugar  and 
molasses  and  merchandise  in  general.  The  early  Free- 
town families  invested  in  them  presumably  to  the  extent 
of  their  means,  using  them  for  farm  labor  and  house 
serxMce,  as  they  had  little  ;ida])tabilit\-  for  other  pursuits. 
This  traffic  continued  without  interruption  till  the  begin- 
ning of  the    Revolution,    when    it    was  soon   brought   to  a 

35 


close,  as  it  was  scarcely  possible  for  the  small  American 
vessels  to  escape  being  captured  by  the  British  cruisers 
lying  in  wait  for  them  along  the  Atlantic  coast. 

In  1783  it  was  abolished  in  Massachusetts  by  the  deci- 
sion of  the  vSupreme  Court,  but  for  a  quarter  of  a  century 
following,  a  considerable  number  of  negro  slaves  survived 
in  the  communities  to  which  they  had  been  transplanted, 
and  then,  under  the  influences  of  an  uncongenial  climate, 
they  rapidly  passed  away.  History  has  little  to  tell  of 
them.  As  individuals  they  were  hardly  known,  except  as 
some  special  incident  brought  them  into  notice,  or  their 
names  were  mentioned  among  other  goods  and  chattels  in 
their  masters'  wills.  Jacob  Hatheway,  in  his  will  written 
in  1754,  gives  to  his  children,  three  "  negro  boys,"  Hector, 
Benoni  and  Perow,  and  four  "  negro  girls,"  Hagar,  Dina. 
Jenne  and  Scalier. 

The  graves  of  these  children  of  service  may  still  be 
identified  in  some  of  the  ancient  family  burial  grounds, 
huddled  by  themselves  in  the  most  obscure  corners,  at  a 
respectful  distance  from  the  white  man's  resting  place. 

The  churches  built  during  the  colonial  period  were 
always  furnished  with  "  negro  pews,"  which  were  situated 
in  the  remotest  parts  of  the  spacious  galleries,  and  so 
firmly  fixed  was  this  custom  that  such  pews  were  con- 
tinued in  the  old  churches  long  after  slavery  had  ceased  to 
exist  in  any  portion  of  New  England. 


26 


An  Indenture. 


'HLS  Indenture  witnesseth  that  we,  the  subseribers. 
Abner  Winslow,  Samuel  Barnaby,  Stephen  Borden 
and  Jonathan  Read,  selectmen  of  ye  town  of  Freetown  in 
ve  county  of  Bristol,  in  ye  state  of  ye  Massachusetts  Bay  in 
New  England,  yeomen,  have  bound  Josias  Hall,  Indian 
man,  to  serve  as  a  servant  to  labor  for  ye  term  of  one 
vear  from  ye  date  of  this  Indenture  unto  Philip  Hathway. 
yeoman  of  said  Freetown,  during  all  which  term  ye  said 
Josias  Hall,  his  said  master  faithfully  shall  serve,  his  law- 
ful commands  he  shall  gladly  and  cheerfully  obey ;  his 
secrets  keep;  hurt  to  his  said  master  he  shall  not  do,  nor 
wilfullv  suffer  to  be  done  by  others,  neither  shall  he 
absent  himself  from  his  said  master's  service  either  by  day 
or  by  night,  without  his  master's  leave  or  consent,  but 
^hall  at  all  times  behave  himself  as  a  faithful  servant 
ouofht  to  do  durinof  the  whole  of  said  term;  and  ve  said 
master  shall  willingly  furnish  boarding  and  lodging  suit- 
able for  such  a  servant's  term,  and  allow  him  such  wages 
for  his  service  as  shall  be  thought  or  judged  by  impartial 
men  that  he  shall  earn  by  his  labor  for  his  master  in  said 
term.  In  witness  whereof  we  have  hereunto  set  our 
hands  and  seals  this  twenty-second  day  of  A]:)ril.  in  ye 
year  of  our  Lord,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
seventv-ninc.  and  in  \-c  third   \'ear  of   American    Inde])cn- 

dence. 

Ai;m:k  \V inflow, 

S.win.i.   I).\KNAr,N', 

S  I  i;i'iii;\    Bt  >Ri)KN. 

JoNAlllAN     RKAD. 
[Note] — Copied  from  an  old  diary. 


Harriet  Livermore. 


HARRIET  Livermore,  the  eccentrie  female  preacher, 
visited  Assonet  several  times  in  the  early  part  of  the 
last  century,  for  the  purpose  of  assisting  at  the  "protracted 
ineetings,"  which  at  that  period  were  convened  occasion- 
ally in  the  Christian  Church.  Her  personal  appearance 
and  her  peculiarities  of  mind  and  manner  are  very 
minutely  described  in  Whittier's  "Snow  Bound." 

The  deacon's  wife,  who  entertained  her  at  such  sea- 
sons, often  found  it  a  most  difficult  task  to  satisfy  the 
requirements  of  so  capricious  a  guest,  and  the  minister's 
son,  who  was  constrained  to  act  as  page  in  conveying  her 
foot-stove  to  and  from  the  church,  gave  ample  testimony 
to  the  severities  of  his  experience. 

On  one  occasion,  in  her  character  of  "Vixen  and 
Devotee,"  she  enacted  a  violent  scene  in  the  pulpit  on 
being  referred  to  by  one  of  the  speakers  as  ' '  The  sister 
who  thinks  she  has  had  a  call  to  preach." 

At  her  final  leave-taking,  with  an  evident  desire  to 
make  amends  for  past  misconduct,  she  presented  a  set  of 
silver  tea  spoons  to  the  deacon's  wife,  who  had  served  her 
so  faithfullv. 


28 


Church  History. 


BY   REV.    LEONARD   WOOLSEY  BACON,    D.  D. 


U 


T  the  time  when 
the  broad  terri- 
tory of  "  The  Free- 
men's Purchase  "  be- 
j^' a n  to  be  slowly 
occupied  by  white  set- 
tlers, the  heroic  age 
of  the  Old  Colony  was 
ci  1  r e a d y  p a  s t.  The 
signs  of  that  decad- 
ence had  begun  to 
s  h  o  w  themselves, 
which  illustrates  the 
thesis  maintained  by 
Dr.  Bushnell,  that  mi- 
gration is  followed  by 
a  tendency  to  barba- 
rism. The  heroic  age 
was  followed  by  an  age 
of  land  sj^cculation.  Not  iinnaturalh-  nor  unreasonably  the 
large  immigration  from  o\-cr  sea  and  the  natural  increase 
at  home  directed  the  minds  of  the  colonists  to  the  prob- 
able future  value  of  the  unoccupied  lands  about  them. 
The  rules  l)y  wliicli  entrance  into  these  lands  was 
restricted  were  honorable  to  the  wisdom  and  the  righteous- 
ness   of    the  colonial    ti'overnment.       I'here  was  to  be  no 

of   unorganized    scjuatters 


REV.    L     W     BACON,    D.  D 


scrambling,   and   no  stragglin 


into  the  wilderness;  and  (whatever  might  be  the  assump- 
tions of  right  on  the  part  of  the  British  erown)  the  Indian 
title  to  ownership  and  jurisdiction  was  to  be  respected 
until  superseded  by  fair  treaty  and  purchase.  The  lands, 
having  been  righteously  acquired,  were  to  be  entered 
upon  by  organized  companies  sufficient  in  numbers  and 
resources  for  town  government  and  defense,  and  for  main- 
taining the  school  and  the  church. 

It  was  merely  in  the  spirit  of  investment  that,  nearlv 
forty  years  after  the  landing  at  Plymouth,  a  company  of 
twentv-six  of  the  second  generation  from  the  Piltrrims 
made  "The  Freemen's  Purchase."  Not  one  of  the 
twenty-six  became  a  settler  on  the  newly-acquired  domain, 
and  the  returns  by  sale  were  slow  and  uncertain.  The 
desolations  wrought  through  all  this  region  by  King 
Philip's  War  (ItiT.V^)),  were  not  prcmiotive  of  settlement, 
and  there  are  indications  in  the  record  that  some  of  the 
earliest  adventurers  into  the  forest  were  no  ornament  to 
the  Christian  name.  But,  little  by  little,  men  worthier  of 
the  IMlgrim  stock,  heirs  or  assigns  of  the  original  pur- 
chasers, occupied  the  lots  into  which  the  Purchase  was 
divided,  and  although  no  record  appears  of  formal  organi- 
zation for  worship,  we  may  confidently  assume  that  before 
the  end  of  the  seventeenth  century  there  was  worship 
here  in  the  cabins  of  the  settlers,  and  gatherings,  from 
time  to  time,  in  the  name  of  Christ.  The  earliest  public 
action  towards  the  organization  of  the  church  is  the  vote 
of  a  town  meeting  June  1(»,  ir)99,  proposing  to  build  a 
house  of  worship  at  some  point  convenient  to  "our  neigh- 
bors in  Taunton"  (meaning,  doubtless,  that  part  of 
Taunton  which  is  now  Berkley),  in  case  these  Taunton 
neighbors  should  be  willing  to  unite  in  the  expense.  The 
negotiation  had  no  result,  and  nearly  three  years  later 
(February,  l7oi>)  the  town  wisely  resolved  that  the 
spiritual  house  should  take  precedence  of  the  material 
one,  and  that  no  building  should  be  undertaken  at  the 
town's  expense   until  thc\'  had  obtained   the   services  of  a 

80 


minister,  who  should  also  be  a  teaeher  of  the  ehildren. 
Not  till  two  years  later  was  one  found  to  aeeept  the  double 
duty — William  Way,  who  (doubtless  with  a  well-grounded 
distrust  of  his  own  qualifications)  professed  his  willing- 
ness to  be  content  to  receive  for  his  labors  in  the  gospel 
no  more  than  should  l)e  freely  offered  him  by  the  good 
will  of  the  people.  But,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Colonial 
government,  the  employment  of  William  Way  was  not  a 
sufficient  compliance  with  the  requirement  that  each  town 
should  maintain  '"a  learned  and  orthodox  minister."  and 
after  two  vears  of  his  service  the  town  found  itself  made 
the  subiect  of  a  formal  complaint  from  the  (xrand  Jury  for 
its  delinquency  in  the  matter.  The  town  appointed  Lieu- 
tenant Job  Winslow,  selectman,  its  agent,  with  a  double 
commission;  first,  to  answer  for  the  town  before  the 
County  Court,  and  secondly  to  consult  with  the  pastor  of 
Taunton  about  having  the  schoolmaster  duly  "appro- 
bated "  as  a  minister.  The  double  mission  was  a  double 
failure.  In  January,  1  "oT,  the  schoolmaster-minister  was 
dismissed,  and  a  peremptory  writ  issued  from  the  Court  of 
General  vSessions  requiring  the  town  to  provide  itself  with 
a  minister.  This  was  the  unhappy  end  of  the  town's  first 
experiment  in  church  work. 

The  village  statesmen  were  quite  equal  to  the 
exigency.  They  met  the  demand  of  the  Colonial  Govern- 
ment with  a  counter  stroke  worthy  of  veteran  diplomatists. 
At  a  town  meeting  March  iMst,  17o7,  it  was  decided  In'  a 
two-thirds  vote  to  applv  to  the  bishop  of  London  for  a 
Church-of-England  minister.  It  is  easy  to  conjecture  the 
motives  that  led  to  this  action.  One  was  the  wish  to  save 
themselves  the  expense  of  a  minister's  salary.  Another 
was  the  working  of  Quaker  principles  of  protest  against  a 
])aid  ministrv,  and  of  the  Rhode  Island  principles  (now 
the  })rinci])]cs  of  all  Americ;u  against  llie  interference  of 
the  civil  State  with  religious  concerns.  And  I  cannot  but 
suspect  that  withal  there  was  some  soreness  in  the  hearts 
of  these  Old   Colony  citizens  at  the  then  recent  extinction 

81 


of  their  noble  little  independent  repiiblie,  brinj^-inj^'  them 
under  the  more  theoeratie  and  not  always  gentle  jurisdic- 
tion of  "the  Bay."  Unless  we  deny  the  leaders  of  the 
Old  Colony  all  sense  of  humor,  there  must  have  been 
some  gentle  ehuekling  in  that  town  meeting,  in  which 
"more  than  two-thirds  of  those  present  and  voting'" 
answered  the  mandamus  of  the  court  bv  proposing  to  refer 
the  matter  to  the  bishop  of  London,  and  ask  him  to  send 
a  clergyman.  It  was  a  proposal  offensive  in  the  highest 
degree  to  the  authorities  at  Boston,  at  which,  neverthe- 
less, it  was  most  unsafe  for  them  to  take  offense.  Prob- 
ably the  Freetown  people  would  have  relished  an  English 
clergyman  as  little  as  the  Boston  Puritans,  but  the  oppor- 
tunity of  turning  thus  at  bay  upon  their  new  masters  was 
too  delightfiil  to  be  missed.  The  implied  threat  so  dex- 
terously conveyed  had  visible  effect.  Three  years  later 
(1710),  when  the  town  was  preparing  to  build  its  first, 
meeting  house,  8(>  feet  by  20,  and  is  feet  between  joints 
a  lot  of  land  for  meeting-house,  school-house,  training 
field  and  burying  ground  was  given  by  a  Boston  citizen, 
and  a  subsidy  of  twenty-five  pounds  was  granted  by  the 
General  Court,  and  bestowed  by  vote  of  the  town  on  the 
Rev.  Joseph  Avery,  whose  brief  ministry  seems  to  have 
been  acceptable  and  peaceful.  But  after  his  departure  (he 
afterward  became  the  first  pastor  of  Norton)  a  sharp  con- 
tention arose  over  the  appointment  of  his  successor,  and 
when  it  had  been  voted  by  the  town  to  call  Recompense 
Wadsworth,  at  a  salary  of  twenty  pounds  a  year,  John 
Read,  Jr.,  protested  against  the  "rash  and  heady"  vote, 
on  the  three  grounds  that  the  town  had  no  sufticient 
knowledge  of  the  candidate's  fitness ;  that  the  appropria- 
tion of  twenty  pounds  was  contrary  to  the  gospel;  and 
finally,  that  the  town  had  already  voted  to  be  supplied  l)y 
the  bishop  of  London.  The  candidate  (prudent  man  I) 
solved  the  contention  by  declining  the  call.  He  afterward 
became  master  of  one  of  the  Boston  Free  Grammar 
Schools. 

32 


REV     FREDERIC     PLUMMER     AND    HIS    WIFE,    RACHAEL     HATHAWAY    PLUMMER 


REV     JAMES    TAYLOR. 


REV,   BENJAMIN    S.    BATCHELOR. 


The  records  that  follow  indicate  that  a  spirit  of  faction 
had  taken  possession  of  the  little  community.  August  8, 
1712,  "in  order  for  the  encouragement  of  the  preaching 
of  the  word  of  God  in  the  town,"  an  appropriation  of 
twenty-five  pounds  was  voted  for  the  year,  but  the  candi- 
date who  was  introduced  failed  of  general  approval.  A 
little  later  a  vote  to  raise  ten  pounds  to  repair  the  meeting- 
house— then  only  three  years  old — was  passed,  against  the 
recorded  protest  of  five  citizens,  and  it  was  more  than  a 
year  before  the  completed  house  of  worship  was  delivered 
to  the  selectmen  for  the  use  of  the  town.  Meanwhile 
(June  2,  1713)  the  town  had  appointed  one  of  its  own 
citizens,  "Jonathan  Dodson,  to  be  minister  of  the  gospel 
for  this  town,  until  there  is  a  supply  from  England,  accord- 
ing to  a  former  vote  of  this  town."  Mr.  Dodson's  pasto- 
rate seems  to  have  continued  more  than  two  years — an 
unusual  length  of  tenure  in  the  Freetown  of  that  period. 
At  the  end  of  his  ministry  some  of  the  leading  citizens 
offered  their  personal  pledge  of  support  to  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Craighead,  whose  work  proved  so  acceptable  that 
after  a  few  months  a  town  meeting  was  convened  (Sept. 
H,  1717)  to  decide  whether  Mr.  Craighead  should  be 
invited  to  remain  as  the  minister  of  the  town ;  and  not- 
withstanding the  recorded  protest  of  five  citizens  alleging 
the  insufficiency  of  the  warrant  and  the  ancient  appeal  to 
the  bishop  of  London,  a  vote  of  25  to  '6  committed  the 
town  to  its  responsibility  for  Mr.  Craighead's  salary.  But 
.so  short-lived  was  his  popularity  that  presently  he  had  to 
sue  the  town  for  unpaid  arrearages  of  salary,  which  were 
not  paid  until  several  of  the  citizens  had  been  locked  up 
in  the  debtors'  jail.  These  energetic  proceedings  seem  to 
have  turned  men's  hearts  once  more  toward  the  bishop  of 
London,  as  appears  from  a  vote  of  July  11>,  1721,  tender- 
ing the  use  of  the  meeting-house  to  the  Rev.  James 
jSIcSparren  "  to  carry  on  the  worship  of  Ood  according  fo 
the  true  intention  of  his  order."  which  was  the  order  of  the 
Church    of    l^.ngland.       Mr.    McvSparren    was    minister    of 

84 


"  The  Narratransett  Church,"  in  Kino-.ston,  Rhode  Island, 
the  foremost  representative  in  this  region  of  that  Society 
for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  which 
was  spending  money  profusely  in  the  attempt  to  secure  a 
foothold  for  "his  order"  in  New  England.  This  frank 
bid  for  a  subsidy,  with  the  offer  of  a  church  building, 
seems,  strangely  enough,  to  have  met  with  no  response. 

The  reader  will  have  been  impressed  throughout  this 
dreary  history  with  the  fact  that  the  church  business  was 
carried  on  in  town  meetings,  and  recorded  in  the  town 
records.  This  was  the  natural  consequence  of  the  vicious 
principle  of  the  ^Iassachu.setts  government,  as  distin- 
guished from  the  more  liberal  constitution  of  Plymouth 
and  of  Connecticut.  By  providing  that  the  electoral  fran- 
chise was  to  be  conferred  only  on  communicant  members 
of  the  church,  it  had  doubtless  honestly  intended  to  ennoble 
and  spiritualize  the  civil  state.  The  actual  result,  as  in 
this  instance,  was  rather  to  secularize  the  church.  When 
the  voters  of  the  town  and  the  members  of  the  church  were 
presumably  the  same  persons,  it  would  have  been  a  mere 
scruple  of  formalism  to  insist  that  the  town  meeting  should 
adjourn,  and  then  come  to  order  again  as  a  church  meet- 
ing. But  the  merger  of  the  two  meetings  into  one  had  the 
inevitable  effect  to  make  the  church  business  a  department 
of  town  politics. 

It  is  not  in  the  least  strange,  neither  is  it  discredit- 
able to  the  fathers  of  the  town  that  these  forty  years  of 
faction  and  unrest  should  have  led  their  minds,  by  reac- 
tion, not  only  to  the  principle  of  which  the  Bapti.sts  were 
the  strenuous  champions,  of  the  non-intcrfercncc  of  the 
State  in  spiritual  affairs,  but  also  to  the  Uuaker  protest 
against  a  paid  ministry.  The  affair  with  Mr.  Craighead 
was  practically  the  end,  for  a  quartcr-ccnturv  thereafter, 
of  efforts  to  settle  a  pastor  of  the  town. 

But  it  would  be  a  mistake  to  infer  that  there  was  here 
a  break  of  continuity  in  the  church  history  of  the  town. 
When   official    ministrations  ceased   in   the   town   mecting- 

85 


house,  the  meetings  of  Friends  began  to  be  frequented, 
and  within  ten  years  after  the  stormy  elose  of  the  Craig- 
head pastorate,  a  Quaker  meeting-house  was  built  (IT^o  ?) 
and  seems  to  have  become  the  real  religious  centre  and 
parish  church  of  the  town.  "  For  at  least  half  a  century," 
it  is  alleged,  "the  Friends,  or  Uuakers,  were  numerically 
the  largest  worshiping  congregation  in  town,  embracing 
the  men  of  first  minds,  most  money  and  best  manners."* 
The  meeting-house  was  built,  a  few  miles  north  of  the  old 
town  church  near  Mother's  Brook,  "near  what  is  still 
called  Quaker  Hill,  not  far  distant  from  the  bleachery,  and 
just  across  the  street  from  what  is  known  as  the  South 
vSchool  House."  But  the  work  of  the  Quaker  meeting, 
interesting  and  valuable  as  it  was,  had  no  seed  in  itself 
after  its  kind.  After  a  generation  or  two,  the  deserted 
chapel  was  removed  to  the  northern  edge  of  the  town, 
where  a  more  recent  building  now  occupies  the  place  of  it, 
and  is  still  used  for  worship  bv  a  congregation  having  fevr 
or  no  Quaker  characteristics. 

At  last,  in  the  year  1747,  it  seemed  as  if  a  better  dav 
was  dawning  for  the  Freetown  church.  September  ;!<tth 
of  that  year  took  place  the  first  distinct  and  formal  organi- 
zation of  a  church,  according  to  the  order  which  the  Xew 
England  fathers  had  drawn  from  their  studies  of  the  New 
Testament,  and  two  months  later — December  2nd — was 
ordained  to  the  otfice  of  pastor  a  man  whose  name  deserves 
to  be  held  in  loving  remembrance  by  later  generations, 
Silas  Brett.  He  was  at  this  time  about  thirty  years  old. 
He  was  hnvn  in  Bridgewater,  had  studied  at  Yale  College, 
had  been  a  student  of  theology  with  the  pastor  of  his 
native  town,  and  before  coming  to  Freetown  had  preached 
for  a  time  at  Easton.  Many  a  foreign  missionarv  has  gone 
to  his  field  with  less  evidence  of  the  martvr  spirit  than 
was  shown  by   Silas   Brett  when  he  came  to  re-open   for 

*E.  W.  Peirce  in    ■History  of  Bristol  County,"'  j)    '^1)7. 


DEACON     BENJAWliM     BURT". 


SINIA     W.    KING. 


RESIDENCE    OF     DEACON    BENJAMIN     BURT. 


Christian  worship  the  deserted  and  ruinous  church  bv 
Mother's  Brook.  Three  days  before  his  ordination  as 
pastor,  he  subscribed  and  caused  to  be  engrossed  upon  the 
town  records  a  formal  covenant,  in  which  he  bound  him- 
self, thus:  "  That  from  the  day  of  my  solemn  separation 
to  the  pastoral  office  in  said  church,  and  for  and  during- 
the  full  term  of  time  of  my  continuance  in  that  office  in 
said  church,  I  will  neither  directly  nor  indirectly  take 
advantage  by  the  laws  of  this  province  to  get  a  salary  set- 
tled on  me  in  the  town  of  Freetown,  but  look  for  and 
expect  my  support  by  the  free-will  offering  of  the  people." 
It  is  easy  to  refer  this  new  quickening  of  church  life,  and 
this  act  of  faith  on  the  part  of  the  new  pastor,  to  that  high 
tide  of  spiritual  earnestness  that  began  at  Northampton 
about  the  year  1740,  and  is  known  as  "  The  Great 
Awakening."  One  of  the  early  fruits  of  ]Mr.  Brett's  min- 
istry was  the  gift  by  three  of  the  townsmen,  under  date  of 
April  13,  174S,  of  a  farm  of  fifty-three  acres,  near  the 
church,  "  for  the  use  of  the  ministry,  and  for  the  benefit 
of  the  people  in  that  part  of  the  town  forever."  But  there 
are  small  proofs  that  this  example  of  liberality  had  any 
considerable  following.  The  town  was  persistent  in  refus- 
ing all  aid  to  the  church,  even  so  much  as  keeping  in 
repair  the  meeting-house,  which  was  its  own  property. 
Seven  years  after  Mr.  Brett's  settlement  it  was  voted 
(March  IS,  1754)  "that  those  that  are  disposed  to  repair 
the  town's  meeting-house  so  as  to  render  it  fit  to  meet  in 
for  worship,  that  they  may  have  the  liberty  to  repair  the 
said  house  on  their  own  cost  and  charge,  and  not  at  the 
charge  of  the  town."  Patient  Mr.  Brett  pursued  his  course 
from  year  to  year,  supported  by  the  glebe  farm  and  a  little 
stipend  from  the  most  ancient  of  Protestant  missionary 
societies — that  which  was  organized  under  the  patronage 
of  Cromwell  in  aid  of  the  labors  of  Eliot  and  his  fellow- 
workers,  and  which,  being  reorganized  after  the  Restora- 
tion,   was    able  to    make    a    small    appropriation   for   Mr. 

38 


Brett's  preaching  and  pastoral  work  among  the  dwindling 
families  of  Pocasset  Indians  near  the  Watiippa  Pond. 
But  it  is  evident  that  the  high  hopes  of  prosperity  for  the 
Freetown  Church,  which  had  been  expressed  in  glowing 
language  in  the  ordination  sermon  by  Mr.  Porter  of 
Bridgewater,  were  never  fulfilled.  The  volume  of  records 
so  diligently  kept  by  the  pastor  gives  proof  of  his  fidelitv 
and  devotion.  But  at  the  close  of  nearly  thirty  years,  his 
letter  of  resignation,  dated  February  24th,  rT7r>,  recounted 
with  unaffected  pathos  the  hopes  with  which  he  had 
entered  on  his  work,  and  his  "  waiting  with  long  patience 
for  those  fruits  which  would  have  been  more  precious  to 
him  than  the  fruits  of  the  earth  are  to  the  husbandman," 
and  how,  when  doubts  had  arisen  whether  it  was  his  dutv 
to  continue  his  labors  in  so  barren  a  field,  with  much  study 
and  prayer  to  learn  the  way  of  duty,  he  "could  not  see 
his  way  clear  to  leave  his  people,  and  therefore  resolved 
to  go  on  with  his  work,  and  endure  hardness  as  a  good 
soldier  of  Jesus  Christ.  And  though  since  that,  some 
small  appearances  of  success  in  my  work  have  repeatedly 
revived  my  former  hopes  and  encouraged  me  to  renew  my 
labors  and  the  exercises  of  patience,  yet  repeated  disap- 
pointments, the  want  of  support,  the  prevailing  of  secta- 
rian principles,  and  especially  the  public  disputes  of  the 
country,  in  which  Freetown  has  had  an  unhappy  share, 
have  brought  me  to  think  it  mv  duty  to  ask  a  dismission 
from  my  pastoral  office  among  vou." 

The  stormy  church  meeting  which  brought  matters  to 
this  crisis  had  been  held  some  fourteen  months  before 
(Lord's  Day,  December  11th,  1774).  when 
"  After  the  last  prayer,  a  resolve  of  the  Provincial  Congress  at 
Cambridge,  recommending  that  Thursday,  the  fifteenth  of 
December,  be  observed  as  a  day  of  Thanksgiving,  to  render 
thanks  to  Almighty  God  for  all  the  blessings  we  enjoy,  and  at 
the  same  time  to  humble  themselves  before  God  on  account  of 
their  sins,  &c. ,  was  publicly  read.  This  done.  Col.  Gilbert 
rose  and  objected  against  observing  that  day.  I  told  him  I  pro- 
Si) 


posed  to  take  the  minds  of  the  assembly  as  soon  as  I  was  readv. 
I  then  told  the  brethren  of  the  church  that  if  it  was  their  minds 
to  receive  the  advice  of  the  Congress,  and  observe  the  dav 
recommended  for  those  purposes,  I  desired  they  would  signify 
it  by  holding  up  their  hands.  Esqr.  Brightman  interrupted  us 
by  alleging  that  I  told  them  I  proposed  to  take  the  minds  of 
the  assembly,  bnt  I  now  called  upon  my  brethren  only.  I 
replied  I  thought  it  proper  to  take  the  mind  of  the  church  first, 
and  then  renewed  my  call  to  the  brethren,  and  they  unani- 
mously held  up  their  hands.  Then  I  told  the  assembly  I 
desired  all  such  from  sixteen  years  old  and  upwards  who  were 
willing  to  join  with  the  church  in  keeping  the  day  recommended 
for  the  foresaid  purposes,  to  signify  it  by  holding  up  their 
hands,  and  a  minor  number  did  so.  Upon  this  some  cried  out 
it  was  not  a  clear  vote,  and  Abiel  Henry  told  me  he  hoped  I 
would  call  for  a  contrary  vote.  I  replied  nothing  as  I  remem- 
ber. Col.  Gilbert  moved  that  the  next  Thursday  seven  nights 
might  be  the  day.  I  replied:  If  'any  of  them  had  a  mind  to 
keep  that  day  too,  I  had  nothing  to  object,  but  the  church 
voted  to  keep  the  day  recommended  by  the  Congress.  Col. 
Gilbert  alleged  that  the  Congress  was  an  unlawful  assembly, 
and  that  if  we  received  their  advice  and  observed  the  day 
recommended,  we  adopted  all  their  resolves.  I  replied  I  did 
not  think  it  a  proper  time  and  place  to  debate  those  matters, 
and  the  assembly  being  in  a  great  commotion.  Col.  Gilbert 
moved  that  it  should  be  put  to  vote  whether  they  would  keep 
Thursday  se'nnight  as  a  day  of  thanksgiving.  Accordingly  I 
proposed  to  those  that  remained  in  the  meeting-house  that  such 
as  were  disposed  to  keep  Thursday  se'nnight  as  a  day  of  public 
thanksgiving  and  humiliation  should  signify  it  by  holding  up 
their  hands,  and  a  number  of  those  that  didn't  hold  up  their 
hands  for  keeping  next  Thursday,  held  up  their  hands,  but 
whether  a  major  or  minor  I  couldn't  tell.  This  done,  they  were 
in  motion  to  go  out  of  the  meeting-house,  till  I  told  theni  I 
hoped  they  would  not  run  away  without  the  blessing,  upon 
which  they  stopped,  and  the  blessing  was  given. 

In  .such  a  storm  as  thi.s  it  is  no  wonder  that  the  frail 
little  organization,  which,  in  the  fairest  weather,  had 
much    ado    to    keep  afloat,    made  shipwreck.     Good  Silas 

40 


CHRISTIAN    CHURCH    AND    PARSONAGE. 


CONGRE'GATIONAL    PARSONAGE. 
41 


Brett  carried  his  gray  hairs  and  his  children  with  him  to 
Easton,  where  he  died  in  ITltl,  at  the  age  of  To.  Col. 
Gilbert,  his  antagonist,  took  refuge  in  the  British 
provinces,  and  his  property  at  the  center  of  the  village 
was  confiscated.  In  the  distractions  of  the  War  of  Inde- 
pendence and  the  agitated  period  which  followed,  the  flock 
was  scattered  as  sheep  having  no  shepherd.  But  these 
vicissitudes  only  serve  to  illustrate  the  inextinguishable 
vitality  of  the  church.  The  meetings  for  worship  had  not 
long  ceased  in  the  old  meeting-house  by  Mother's  Brook, 
when  other  congregations  began  to  organize  themselves  to 
provide  for  the  needs  of  the  people.  Peace  had  not  yet 
been  restored  to  the  country,  when  (February,  ITsi)  was 
established  a  church  in  the  southern  part  of  the  town, 
which  is  now  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Fall  River.  At 
a  still  earlier  date,  apparently,  a  church  was  gathered  at 
the  southern  edge  of  Assonet  village,  and  one  at  East . 
Freetown.  It  need  surprise  no  one,  in  view  of  the  past 
history,  that  all  three  of  the  congregations  which  suc- 
ceeded to  the  old  parish  church  were  identified  with  that 
denomination  which  is  distinguished  in  all  American  his- 
tory as  the  foremost  champion  of  the  principle  of  the 
mutual  independence  of  church  and  State  —  the  Baptists. 
The  congregation  at  iVssonet  built  its  house  of  worship 
(in  the  years  1  T!»;3-»i)  on  a  sightly  hill-top,  where  the  line 
of  its  foundations  may  still  be  traced.  And  here  seems  to 
have  been  the  principal  center  of  the  town's  religious  life, 
within  the  rigid  lines  of  doctrine  and  discipline  that  then 
characterized  all  Baptist  churches.  But  about  the  year 
isnl  a  remarkable  change  took  place,  which  may  be 
referred  to  a  combination  of  influences.  The  whole  coun- 
try was  feeling  the  "more  abundant  life"  that  pulsated 
through  all  the  churches  in  that  great  revival  at  the  open- 
ing of  the  nineteenth  century,  which  has  been  called 
"The  Second  Awakening;"  the  reaction  from  the  stren- 
uous and  narrow  dogmatism  of  the  dynasty  of  the 
]-2dwardean  theologians  was  rising  to   its   high  tide  in  the 

4-..' 


I'liitariunisin  of  Bosl(jn,  and  makino"  itself  felt  e\-en  at  this 
distanee  from  that  eentre,  and  with  these  remoter  influ- 
ences was  joined  the  inlluenee  of  a  powerful  personality  — 
that  of  the  beloved  and  revered  pastor  of  the  church, 
Philip  Hathaway.  Under  his  leadini^  nearly  the  entire 
church  came  to  renounce  their  adhesion  to  the  tenets  of  an 
exaggerated  Calvinism,  and  to  the  exclusiveness  of  the 
Baptist  fellowship,  and  to  range  themselves  with  "  The 
Christian  Connection,"  which  was  just  then  beginning  to 
crystallize  about   different    nuclei  in  different  parts  of  the 


CHRISTIAN    CHURCH,    EAST    F  R  E  E  T  O /V  N 

country.  The  churches  of  this  Connection  in  New  Eng- 
land differed  from  the  Congregational  churches  about 
them,  in  their  ])rotest  against  doctrinal  tests  as  conditions 
of  church  fellowship,  and  against  the  requirement  of  a  col- 
lege education  in  all  candidates  for  the  ministry.  From 
the  Congregationalists  of  the  jiresent  da\-  the\-  differ  in  no 
definable  ])articular,  exce])t  that  of  being  organized  into  a 
distinct  sect.  The  current  setting  toward  the  new  •'  Con- 
nection "  was  so  strong  as  to  take  with  it  botli  the  Baptist 
Churches  in  East  Freetown. 

43 


At  Assonet  there  were  visible  and  material  signs  of 
spiritual  vitality.  The  Baptist  meeting-house,  which  for 
a  dozen  years  had  been  occupied  in  an  unfinished  state, 
was  now  completed  with  lath  and  plaster,  and  simulta- 
neously those  who  cherished  the  memorv  or  the  tradition 
of  the  old  parish  church  and  of  the  godlv  ininistry  of  Silas 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH,    BUILT    1809 

Brett  began  to  bestir  themselves.  Many  things  had  taken 
place  in  the  thirty  years  since  vSilas  Brett  had  withdrawn 
in  sorrow  from  the  scene  of  his  disappointed  hopes. 
Peace  had  settled  down  upon  the  once  distracted  town,  and 
with  peace  had  come  pros])crity.      In  Isii;;  the  thriving  vil- 

44 


lage  of  Fall  River  had  been  set  off  as  a  separate  town,  and 
the  reason  which  had  fixed  the  meeting-house  at  Mother's 
Brook  as  central  to  the  town  had  ceased  to  exist.  There 
could  have  been  little  left  but  a  ruin  of  the  poor  shell  of  a 
building  which  for  nearly  a  century  had  passed  through 
such  vicissitudes  of  use  and  neglect ;  consequently,  when 
the  revival  of  the  church  led  to  the  erection  of  a  new  house 
of  worship  in  the  year  1.S09,  there  could  be  no  hesitation 
in  placing  it  at  the  natural  centre  of  the  newly  delimited 
town  —  the  "Four  Corners"  of  Assonet.  As  there  must 
have  been  small  remains  of  the  old  meeting-house,  so 
there  could  have  been  but  few  survivors  of  the  little  com- 
pany of  twentv-one  persons  who  constituted  the  church  at 
the  time  of  Mr.  Brett's  dismission.  The  church  and 
society  which  undertook  the  work  of  building,  was  practi- 
cally a  new  organization,  and  we  cannot  but  admire  the 
zeal  and  self-denial  that  disposed  their  scanty  number  to 
undertake  a  church  building,  which,  in  point  of  costliness 
and  of  architectural  pretension,  was  so  far  in  advance  of 
anything  previously  attempted  in  the  town. 

The  Christian  community  of  the  town  of  Freetown 
was  thus  organized  for  Christian  work,  worship  and  fel- 
lowship, substantially  in  the  form  which  continues  to  this 
day.  The  two  hamlets  of  East  Freetown  were  provided 
with  chapels,  and  the  village  of  Assonet  was  doubly  pro- 
vided. Some  of  the  more  notable  facts  in  the  external 
history  of  the  church  since  this  time  may  be  thus  briefly 
stated. 

.\bout  the  year  1832  the  old  Baptist  meeting-house 
that  had  stood  for  thirty-four  years,  and  for  twentv-five  of 
them  had  been  occupied  by  the  "  Christian"  congregation, 
was  superseded  by  the  neat  and  commodious  structure  that 
still  stands  ck^se  alongside  the  foundations  of  its  prede- 
cessor. 

In  the  year  Istis,  on  the  occasion  of  the  presentation 
to  the  North  Church  by  Dr.  Nathan  Durfee.  of  Fall  River, 
of  an  organ  t)f  thirty-eight  stops,   an   addition  of  twenty 

4r. 


feet  was  made  to  the  lenj^'th  of  the  ehiireh,  providing  thus 
an  organ-room  and  ehoir  h)ft,  and  in  the  basement  a  eon- 
ferenee  room;  the  galleries  were  lowered,  and  other  im- 
provements were  effeeted. 

In  is!!,')  the  South  Chureh  underwent  extensive  im- 
provement and  embellishment,  and  a  parsonage  was  built. 

In  isUi)  the  old  Friends'  Meeting-House,  whieh  many 
years  before  had  been  moved  from  "  Quaker  Hill  "  almost 
to  the  northern  boundary  of  the  town,  was  torn  down,  and 
the  present  building  ereeted. 

In  11MH  the  quaint  mansion  known  as  the  Captain 
Rufus  Baeon  plaee.  was  bought  for  a  parsonage  to  the 
North  Chureh,  and  largely  repaired. 

The  following  is  an  ineoniplete  list  of  those  who  have 
served  the  town  in  one  eonneetion  or  another,  in  the  min- 
istrv  of  the  gospel: 

/;V  77//:'    7'OirX  (7/['KCH. 

17()4_1  Toe.     William   AV.\\. 

ITKt-lTl  1.       JoSl-.lMI    .V\  KK\  . 

1718-171.V     JdXAriiAX   DoDsox. 

ITKU .     Thomas  Crakwikad. 

1 747-1  77t'..     Silas   Brkii. 

LV   77//:  .-LSSO.V/iT  />AP7VST  CHCRCH. 
(Ineorporated  bv  .Vet  of  Ceneral  Court,  June  i!;-),   17'.»7,  but 
luirlier  ()rganized.) 
.       I)A\II)    SiMMoXs. 

IS(i7.     PiiiLiL  Haiiiawaw 

IN  THE  ASSOXIiT   ''  C7/R/S77.1N"    CHURCH. 
( ( )rgan i zed   May,    1  s o 7 .  i 

1S()7_1S21.        PlIlLlL     ilAllIAWW. 

isij-l— l.s;-i:^.  |a\i!>  Tani.dr. 

ls;5:>,-i,s;U.  William   Col. 

ls;!4-ls;;7.  Ar.xKK  Joxks. 

l,s:-},s .  C.ARDxi.R  I)i:\x. 

ls8S-l,s;'.'.t.  Daxa   Bradiori). 

LS40-1S44.       J\.ML^>    Ta\  LOR. 

46 


REV.    P.    A.    CANADA. 

I>4.i_ls47.  JA.MKs  S.    :\Ia\\vi:i.i,. 

ls4{t-ls:)l.  S.vMiF.i,  S.   White. 

l.s.")i!-ls:):;.  Frkdkkhk  I-hmmkr. 

l,s,j-i:-i,s;>(;.  Ai.isKRi  (j.  Com  IN'. s. 

]s:)(')-i,s:)S.  Gkorc;!-:  W.   K hi, ion. 

LsCl-lNt;,').  X.   S.  Cii-\i»\vi(K. 

1  st;:)_i.s(;7.  Aur.mi.v-M  J.m  kson. 

1  sr.T-l  sf.'.i.  A.    A.    \Vii.i.i.\M>. 
1  Nf.'.t-l  ,s7n.      JOHN    I'.ruis.WK. 
ls7ii-ls7-_>.      R.    15.    I^j.DKiDci:. 

1^72-1874.  (  ).    1.    1I.\N(<hk. 

Is 74 .      \V.   ('..    Wakk. 

1.S74-1N7:..      \V.   (  ).    S\\  i.ii'. 
ls7:.-l^'.•L^     15i;\i.\Mi\  S.   P).\i(  iiki.or. 

l,si)2-l.s;i:..       Al'.R.MlAM     L.     l')l..\N. 
lS<>r)-lS'.t'.l.       ('..     A.     C<iMKl.\R. 

1S!M> .        p.     A.    C.\N.\1'.\. 

47 


f  fc^«;yi 

■ 

lyi 

k 

" 

^^H 

r  ^^mBP 

^H^B 

''^P^Hh^^ 

^^ 

^■^^1 

L:v.'»!C^''^«*-"'^n'ii  1^      "^ 

n 

flB'*--Vl 

m^^^m^^^ 

.  ^ 

REV  A  G  DUNCAN 


REV.  FRANCIS  H.  BOYNTON. 


/.\-   /•///:■  XORl'H  CHURCH,  ASSONET. 
(Constituted  by  Council,  April  20,  1807). 


1S07- 

Curtis  Coe. 

1  S01>- 

Luther  Leland. 
Calvin  Park. 

181(1- 

-isu. 

1 8 1 2- 

CtEOR(;e  vS.   White. 

1815- 

Philh'  Colby. 

1819- 

-1820. 

Charles  Nichols. 

1820- 

Otis  Lane. 

1822- 

. 

James  Gurnev. 

1.S27- 

. 

Joseph  P.  Tyler. 

1S21»- 

-ls8<). 

vStktson  Raymond. 

1837- 

-1845. 

E.   W.   Robinson. 

1845- 

-184«). 

Charles  Chamberlain 

1848- 

-1853. 

vSamuel  Woodbury. 

1858- 

-1855. 

John  E.  Cory. 

185«i- 

-iNtu. 

Ai;el  (j.   Duncan. 

48 

18f)7-I>7I 

ls71-ls7-_> 
1S72-1.S74 
lS7."')-ls7<'. 
1S77-1S7S 
KS7U-lss(i 
1 880-1 8Ntt 
1  890-1  S!>1 
isiis-l'.tnl 

llHll 


Francis  II.    I5()^•^■•I•()^', 
(ti:or(;k  W.    Ha  i haw w  . 

Wll.I.IAM     II.    Cl   TLKR. 

W.   A.   Tkwkv. 

^Vll,l.  c  Wool). 

F.    F.   Williams. 
(iKoKCL   I*\   Walklr. 

J.    J.     vSl'LNCER. 

William    V.   AV\rri;n. 
Li:o\ARii   Wooi.siA'   Bacon. 


RESIDENCE    OF    MRS     SAMUEL    S.    BARNABY. 


49 


gJ^»f^^T 


CLAMBAKE    GROVE 


The  Assonet  Clambake. 


TT  HIvSTORY  of  Freetown  would  hardlv  be  eom])lete  with- 
j  ^  out  some  aeeount  of  the  Assonet  elambake,  i^'iven  for 
so  many  years  under  the  auspiees  of  tlie  Christian  Chureh 
Soeiety  as  almost  to  l)e  reekoned  in  amoni;'  its  institutions. 
The  idea  of  a  bake  as  a  means  of  raisin<;-  money  for  the 
church  orii^'inated  witli  Swansea,  and  Assonet  was  the  first 
to  follow  her  lead.  Tlie  first  l)ake  here  was  held  in  1S«U), 
and  the  thirtx'-fourth  and  last  in  Isi'l*.  When  the  bake 
was  proposed,  there  were  man\'  elderlv  conservatives  to 
prophesy  failure,  but  gradually  patience  and  vouthful  zeal 
won  the  day.  Willing  helpers  cleared  Thresher's  Orove, 
dug  the  clams,  and  supplied  the  \-egetablcs  from  their  own 
gardens.  About  three  hundred  dinner  tickets  were  sold 
this  first  year,  and  the  sale  steadily  increased  until  one 
year  as  manv  as  eighteen  hundred  seats  were  taken.  The 
average  number  sold  was  one  thous;ind,  the  supplies 
necessary  for  this  number  being  estimated  at  sixty  bushels 
of  clams,  four  barrels  of  sweet  ])otatoes,  three  hundred 
pounds  of   fish,  one   thousand  ears  of  corn,  and   two  hun- 

50 


dred  pounds  of  dressiiiL;'.  The  dimensions  of  the  bake 
were  twentv-five  feet  by  eij^'ht  feet.  Three  eords  of  wood 
heated  the  stones,  whieh  were  then  eovered  with  roek- 
weed  and  canvas. 

There  were  other  means  for  raising-  money  on  the 
grounds:  a  fancy  table  furnished  by  the  Sewing  Society, 
an  ice  cream  booth,  and  cake,  candy,  flower,  sandwich  and 
coffee  tables.  These  were  common  features  of  every 
bake.      A  variation  appeared  one  year —  Isc.s,  in  the  shape 


B     F     AIKEN. 

of  The  Asso)ict  Messenger,  a  four-page  sheet,  one-fourth  of 
it  reading  matter,  dealing  with  e\'ervthing  from  praise  of 
the  clambake  to  the  description  of  a  Chinese  wedding,  the 
remaining  space  taken  u]i  bv  advertisements  of  Taunton, 
Fall  River  and  Providence  firms,  friends  of  the  bake  jiro- 
moters.  An  unexpected  di\'ersion  was  furnished  in  Isti'.i 
by  the  vSeptember  gale.  Man\'  of  the  guests  found  their 
way  home  again  in  spite  of  falling  trees  and  toppling  chim- 
neys.     The     What    Cheer,     howexx-r,    coidd    not    return    to 

51 


Providence  until  the  next  day,  but  lay  all  night  tossing  off 
Cudworth's  Wharf,  while  her  passengers  found  impromptu 
lodging  and  entertainment  in  the  homes  of  the  villagers. 
Although  in  niost  respects  the  Assonet  clambake  was 
like  any  similar  institution,  it  was  unique  in  this,  that  it 
came  to  be  the  day  of  the  year  for  meeting  old  friends  and 
renewing  old  associations.  For  many  years  it  was 
x\ssonet's    Old    Home    Festival,    looked    forward    to    with 


THOMAS    LEEBURN. 

eagerness,  and  remembered  with  pleasure.  In  time  there 
grew  to  be  a  lessening  of  interest  and  a  falling  off  in 
attendance,  and  finally  the  bake  was  discontinued  alto- 
gether. The  reasons  for  its  decline  are  not  far  to  seek. 
Many  of  its  old  patrons  had  either  died  or  moved  away 
from  this  section  of  the  country,  and  scc(M1(11v,  competition 
had  entered  in  to  make  it  impossible  that  anv  but  the 
fittest  clambake  should  survive.  The  ubiquitous  trolley- 
car  and  the  frequent  park  and  shore  resorts,  with  their 
daily  menu  of  baked  clams,  have  come  off  conquerors. 


School  History. 


BY    MRS.    PAUL    M.    BURNS. 


D I' RING  the  colonial  and  the  provincial  periods,  the 
power  to  select  teachers  and  to  regulate  the  schools 
was  vested  in  the  town  as  a  corporation,  and  not  in  any 
particular  officer  of  it.  From  the  year  1683 — the  date  of 
the  incorporation  of  Freetown  as  a  town  —  until  17<»!i,  we 
tind  no  records  of  school  affairs,  but  in  the  latter  year 
Robert  Durfee,  at  a  town  meeting,  was  chosen  town's 
agent,  to  obtain  a  man  "  to  dispense  the  gospel  and  teach 
the  children  readin  and  ritin."  Two  years  later  William 
Way  accepted  the  trust,  serving  as  minister  and  school- 
master until  ITuT,  when,  by  vote  of  the  town,  he  was  dis- 
missed. Subsequent  ministers  must  have  served  as 
schoolmasters,  though  no  mention  is  made  of  the  fact  in 
the  town  records. 

Mav  15,  Ills,  the  next  mentioned  date,  the  town 
"  mayde  chovce  of  Jacob  Hatheway  to  seek  for  a  school- 
master." In  October  of  the  same  year  "  Thomas 
roberts  "  was  allowed  thirty-six  pounds  for  one  year's  ser- 
vice "  at  three  several  places:  Walter  Chase's,  at  or  near 
John  Rowland's,  public  meeting-house."  Roberts  and 
the  town  did  not  agree,  and  at  a  meeting  heUl  Fcl)ruary 
14.  1721,  it  was  voted  "  to  seek  a  new  schoolmaster."  The 
next  few  years  it  would  seem  that  the  matter  of  education 
was  neglected,  as  there  were  repeated  actions  taken  at 
w'lrious  town  meetings,  but  nothing  dciinitc  done.  In 
1722  the  town  voted  "to  erect  two  schoolhouses  at  the 
middle  of  each  half  of  the   town    from   meeting-house  or 


center."  Scliool  was  to  be  three  times  remox-ed  dnriiii^' 
the  year:  ••I*'irst,  at  meetins^-hotise,  second,  hiwer  part 
of  town,  third,  npjjcr  part  of  town."  In  1  7i!7  these  two 
buiklin^'s  were  sohl  at  ])tiblic  auction,  one  for  two  dollars, 
the  other  for  hve  dollars.  We  next  learn  that  in  17-i"> 
William  (rait^'e  was  employed  to  teach  school  for  one  year 
for  thirtv-two  pounds,  he  to  provide  his  own  board. 
I  )urinL;;  the  three  following  years  his  successor,  William 
Caswell,  taught,  with  an  increase  in  salary  of  six  pounds. 
July  1<>,  lT-2ti,  it  was  \-oted  to  l)uild  two  schoolhouses.  Xo 
record  can  be  found  of  their  locations.  AVhen  we  take 
into  cotisideration  the  fact  that  at  this  time — IT^o  —  there 
were  fewer  than  eighty  families  in  all  the  wide  extent 
from  Oueqtiechan  Falls  to  Stacey's  P)r()()k,  and  then,  fur- 
ther, think  of  this  territory  as  a  vast  wilderness  infested 
with  wild  animals,  we  shall  not  l)c  surprised  that  children 
were  not  sent  to  school,  or  that  the  town  was  repeatedly 
indicted  for  not  "  hax'ing  a  schoolmaster  as  the  law 
directs." 

Ephraim  Tisdalc,  in  174.">,  sold  to  the  town  "land 
with  house  thereon,  situated  between  said  Tisdale's  home 
and  Sonet  ( )uld  Bridge  for  1  ••(»  pounds  old  tenor."  Tis- 
dale  was  to  furnish  convenient  seats  and  tables,  and  it  was 
agreed  that  it  should  be  finished  to  the  "turning  of  ye 
key."  The  location  of  this  building  was  in  the  village,  a 
little  south  of  the  fountain,  and  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
street.  It  stood  for  twentv-seven  )-ears,  and  was  then 
destroyed  by  hre.  Sliadrach  Hathaway  was  in  all  prob- 
ability the  first  teacher  of  this  schooL  Tradition  says  he 
was  a  college  graduate,  lie  died  December;'),  1741',  at  the 
age  of  thirty  three,  and  lies  buried  on  land  owned  by  the 
late  Daniel  Macomber.  He  was  one  of  the  original  mem- 
bers of  Sihis  Brett's  church.  In  May,  171^,  it  was  voted 
to  build  "  a  schoolhouse  t\vent_\--four  feet  long  and  twenl\- 
feet  wide,  upon  land  in  centre  of  town,  near  or  upon  spot 
on  which  ould  schoolhouse  stands."  A  ])uilding  com- 
mittee was  chosen,  but  on    ]anuar\-   -27,    I7.V"».  this  commit- 

.■■)4 


tee  was  dismissed,  and  "  choyce  niayde  "  of  Nathan  Sim- 
mons to  finish  said  house.  Thus  we  see  that  this  l3uild- 
ing  was  in  process  of  construction  for  seven  years. 

In  1747  what  is  known  as  New  or  East  Freetown  was 
added  to  Freetown,  and  in  17."')(;  and  1757  the  people  of 
that  section  were  allowed  a  proportion  of  the  school 
money.  Their  first  schoolhouse  was  erected  in  17(>2,  by 
Captain  Elisha  Parker,  at  a  cost  of  twenty-one  pounds  six 
shillings.  It  was  to  be  shingled  "ruff  and  sides,"  and 
furnished  with  seats,  and  a  "  gude "  brick  chimney.  It 
was  located  near  ]Mason's  Corner. 

In  177(»  the  town  allowed  sixty  dollars  to  the  people 
over  the  "  Great  Ponde  "  to  reimburse  them  for  building  a 
schoolhouse.  In  August  of  the  same  year  the  town  voted 
to  "Jas.  Tisdale  twenty-four  pounds  eleven  shillings  to 
keep  school  in  New  Freetown  twelve  weeks,  in  old  part  of 
town  fom'teen  weeks,  and  at  Assonet  sixteen  weeks." 

The  following  is  the  enrollment  of  pupils  in  the  town 
Februarv  2s,   1772,  Elijah  Briggs,  teacher: 


1. 

Naihan   Borden, 

20. 

Caleb   Briggs. 

0 

Paiiknce   Bordkn. 

■i\. 

Rhody    Briggs. 

!). 

Hannah   Borden. 

22. 

Ruth   Negus. 

i. 

LUCV     DURFEE. 

23. 

Edward   Braley. 

5. 

Nathan   Durfee. 

24. 

Isaac   Borden. 

li. 

vSi.MEON   Borden. 

25. 

Benjamin   Brayton. 

7. 

JuDi'iH   Borden. 

2  (J. 

Peleg   Brayton. 

8. 

Phoii'.k    Haihewav. 

27. 

Ruth   Borden. 

'.). 

RoBKRr   Hatheway. 

28. 

Charles  Durfee. 

10. 

Prudence    Hatheway. 

2'.). 

Mary   Borden. 

1  1. 

Perry   Borden. 

:5(). 

James  Borden,    Jr. 

\-L 

Stephen  Borden. 

:',l. 

Parker   Borden. 

1:5. 

Lemuel  Chace. 

:52. 

Arxer  Borden. 

14. 

Hki  r\"    Bordkn. 

)5o. 

Abe  Builer. 

15. 

\V  I  1. 1,1  AM     UuRFKE. 

:u. 

Sam.   Sherman. 

Ki. 

JAMIS    (illlOKD. 

;)5. 

Aaron   Borden. 

ir. 

Si  1  IMIKN     (h  FFiiRD. 

:>(;. 

John    Ciiace. 

IS. 

ICl.lHf     GiFFORD. 

37. 

Isaac   Haiheway. 

lit. 

I-"i<it:i,ove   Borden. 

38. 

Peres  Sherman. 

3ii.  Ruth   Negus.  4'.i.  Ezra    Borden. 

40.  Isaac   Butts.  50.  Alderman   Negus. 

41.  Reisecca   Durfee.  51.  Jane  Hatheway. 

42.  Israel   Perrv.  52.  Joshua    Hatheway. 

43.  George  Read.  53.  Susanna    Bowen. 

44.  Eliza    Borden.  54.  Thomas  Durfee. 

45.  Henry   Hatheway.  55.  Susanna   Borden. 
4(i.  Abijah   Durfee.  5(i.  Thomas  Turner. 
4T.  Af.el   Borden.  oT.  Mary  Gifford. 
48.  Richard   Borden.  58.  Aaron  Turner. 

59.      Ezra   Luther. 

One  hundred  years  later,  March  1,  ls72,  the  enroll- 
ment AYas  two  hundred  and  sixty.  Elijah  Briggs  was 
succeeded  in  ITT'J  by  Shadracli  Winslow,  who  was  em- 
ployed to  teach  two  months  in  each  section  for  twenty 
shilling's  per  w^eek  with  an  additional  allowance  of  six 
shillings  per  week  for  board.  Winslow  was  the  son  of 
James,  and  the  grandson  of  Captain  Josiah  Winslow  and 
was  born  December  17,  ITT)**.  He  entered  Yale  College 
in  17t>s,  was  graduated  in  177:i,  and  began  teaching  in 
that  year.  In  17>>:'>  he  married  Elizabeth  Robbins  and 
settled  in  Eoxboro',  where  he  practiced  medicine.  May  17, 
177^>,  the  town  yoted  to  build  a  schoolhouse  at  xVssonet, 
"  on  spot  of  one  purchased  from  ]^>phraim  Tisdale  in  174'), 
completed  in  174i),"  that  one  haying  been  destroyed  by 
fire.  This  house  was  for  inany  years  the  place  where  the 
town  meetings  were  held.  Josliua  Howard  Brett,  son  of 
Minister  Brett,  taught  in  this  building.  He  afterward 
remoyed  to  Delaware  Co.,  New  York,  where  he  practiced 
medicine.  JM-om  177:!  to  17!»1  there  are  no  records  of 
interest  in  education.  In  17'.'1  the  numl)er  of  school  dis- 
tricts was  scYcn  : 

Xo.  I,  the  south  part  of  the  lo\vn,  now  Eall  RiYer, 
consisting  of  forty-scYcn   families; 

Xo.  II,  from  X'aleutine's  Brook""  to  what  is  known  as 
the  Barnaby  place,  fifty-two  families ; 

*This  was  a  favorite  resort  of  Abigail  (Durfee)  Valentine  and  after  her 
death,  it  was  referred  to  by  her  children  as  "Mother's  Brnnk,"  by  wliich 
name  it  is  now  known. 

56 


No.  Ill,  from  the  Barnab\-  place  to  the  foot  of  Ridge 
Hill,  including  Bryant's  Xeck,  fifty  families; 

No.  IV,  Assonet.  fifty-eight  families; 

No.  V,  Slab  Bridge  and    "  Backside, ■■■■'■  forty  families; 

No.  VI,  the  district  east  of  Bolton's  cedar  swamp, 
forty  families ; 

No.  VII,  the  district  westward  from  "Ye  Greate 
Watuppa  Ponde,"   seventeen  families. 

In  litis  the  state  required  supervision  of  its  schools. 
The  ministers  of  the  gospel  and  the  selectmen,  or  a  com- 
mittee specially  chosen  for  the  purpose,  were  required  to 
visit  and  inspect  the  schools  once  in  every  six  months. 
This  visitation  was  a  formal  and  solemn  affair.  The  dig- 
nitaries heard  the  classes  read,  examined  the  writing  and 
ciphering  books,  and  departed,  leaving  on  the  records 
their  testimony  to  the  good  behavior  and  proficiency  of 
the  scholars.  The  chief  text  book  in  those  days  was  the 
New  England  Primer,  printed  between  1785  and  l7!>0. 
It  contributed,  perhaps,  UK^re  than  any  other  book,  except 
the  Bible,  to  the  strengthening  of  those  sturdy  qualities 
that  insured  to  America  her  liberty  and  her  free  institu- 
tions. The  print  was  small,  irregular  and  hard  to  read. 
The  eyes  that  pored  over  it  by  fire-light  or  by  candle-light 
must  have  ached.  It  contained  some  curious  cuts  of 
animals  and  odd  looking  trees,  but  the  children  who  read 
its  pages  never  heard  of  Nature  study.  The  only  history 
studied  was  that  found  in  the  Bible.  Not  very  much  was 
known  about  the  size  and  shape  of  the  world  in  those 
early  days,  and  indeed  such  knowledge  did  not  seem 
important  to  the  people.  The  world  was  a  place  to  fight 
in  and  to  die  in.  The  writing  books  had  copies  set  by 
the  teacher.  While  she  mended  pens  i goose  quillsi.  the 
children  brought  up  their  exercises  for  inspection.  Severe 
was  the   punishment  for  a   blot,  and   happ\'  the  child  who 


*"  Backside"  was  the  term  used  by  the  people  living  on  the  east  side 
of  Bolton's  cedar  swamj)  to  desij^nate  tlie  district  lying  to  the  west  of  said 
swamp. 


could  write  write  well,  (or  o-raceful  penmanship  was  con- 
sidered a  great  accomplishment.  "Doing  sums"  was  no 
trifling  matter,  although  it  made  no  demand  on  the  rea- 
soning powers  of  the  child.  The  work  was  done  by  rules 
easily  learned  and  applied.  Examples  in  multiplication 
having  as  many  as  fifteen  figures  in  each  factor  were  but 
ordinary  feats  of  skill,  (reorge  H.  Martin  says,  "In  its 
tax  upon  the  mental  power  of  children  the  arithmetic  work 
of  a  hundred  years  ago  was  play  compared  with  modern 
requirements." 

It  was  not  until  1795  that  Freetown,  in  compliance 
w4th  the  state  law  mentioned  above,  saw  fit  to  choose  her 
school  committee.  It  con.sisted  of  Nathaniel  Morton,  Ben- 
jamin Durfee,  and  Benjamin  Weaver.  They  had  special 
instructions  to  divide  district  No.  V,  and  in  September, 
1796,  rendered  the  following  report :  "that  the  Chipway 
road,  so  called,  be  the  dividing  line  in  said  district;  that 
the  school  house  be  erected  a  few  rods  northwesterly  from 
the  house  of  Capt.  Peregrine  White,  this  district  to  be 
known  as  No.  VIII,  the  other  part  to  be  still  known  as 
No.  V."  New  buildings  were  erected  by  (xcorge  Taber  in 
each  di.strict,  and  were  ready  for  use  in  1798,  the  cost  to 
the  town  for  the  erection  being  ^^65,  4d.  each.  This  .same 
year,  1798,  "  iVssonet  district  was  subdivided  to  be  known 
as  No.  IX  and  No.  X.  The  children  north  of  Capt.  William 
Read's  place,  on  Taunton  road,  to  attend  No.  IX,  and 
those  north  of  the  Ti.sdale  lot.  No.  X."  The  school  build- 
ings were  erected,  the  one  near  the  residence  of  the  late 
Philip  j.  Tripp,  the  other  at  the  top  of  the  hill,  a  little 
west  of  the  home  of  Col.  Richmond. 

The  latter  schoolhonsc  was  Iniilt  by  Simeon  Web.ster, 
for  the  sum  of  one  hundred  and  forty  dollars.  It  was 
iwenty-five  feet  wide  by  thirty  feet  long,  with  eight-foot 
posts.  The  walls  inside  were  covered  with  matched  pine 
boards,  and  it  was  plastered  overhead.  There  were  two 
windows  on  the  front  or  east  side,  one  on  the  south,  two 
on  the  west,  and  none  on  the  north.      The  door  was  in  the 


northeast  front  corner,  and  opened  into  a  six  by  six  foot 
entry,  partitioned  from  the  main  room  by  unmatched 
boards.  A  door  with  a  wooden  latch  and  a  leather  strint^ 
opened  into  the  main  room.  There  were  no  shades  to  the 
windows,  no  maps  nor  pictures.  Tn  the  north  end  was  a 
large  fireplace,  in  which  four-foot  wood  was  burned.  At 
the  right  was  the  desk,  which  was  simply  a  frame  of  planed 
pine  boards  three  by  six  feet,  standing  four  and  a  half  feet 
high.  The  desks  for  the  older  pupils  were  pine  planks 
two  feet  wide,  arranged  in  a  continuous  line  around  three 
sides  of  the  room.  These  planks  were  fastened  to  the 
walls  by  cleats,  and  were  inclined  toward  the  centre  of  the 
room.  The  seats  were  a  continuous  line  of  planks  on 
uprights,  at  the  height  (^f  a  chair,  and  without  backs. 
vSeated  in  this  way  the  back  of  each  child  was  toward  the 
centre.  The  younger  children  sat  on  benches  made  by 
boring  holes  in  planks,  into  which  short  legs  were  placed. 
These,  too,  had  no  backs.  There  was  no  receptacle  for 
books  and  slates,  except  now  and  then  a  small  indiyidual 
drawer  hung  underneath  the  plank  desks.  The  building 
committee  would  not  accept  this  house  after  completion 
••  unless  said  Webster  would  relinquish  Ss,  which  he  did.'" 
In  1835  seventy  scholars  attended  this  school. 

The  Assonet  district  now  had  seventy-eight  families, 
and  maintained  two  schools.  "The  north  subdivision 
included  children  from  the  Quid  Bridge  to  Capt.  Wm. 
Read's  ;'•■  from  the  west  end  of  Water  street  to  the  home  of 
Xat  Hatheway."  ■+•  The  south  subdivision  extended  from 
•'  the  foot  of  Ridge  Hill  to  the  ( )uld  Bridge,  including  all 
families  on  Terry  Road."  The  schoolhouse  was  lirst 
located  near  the  .site  of  the  present  Christian  Church,  but 
was  afterward  removed  to  the  site  opposite  the  Pound. 
Not  long  ago  the  hearthstone  of  the  old  .schoolhou.se  was 
discovered  lying  l)eneath  the  walk  in  front  of  the  Christian 
Church. 


*The  site  of  the  house  now  owned  by  Miss  Sarah  Porter. 
fThe  site  of  the  house  now  occupied  bv  Mrs.  Marv  Fletcher. 

59 


It  would  seem  at  this  time  that  the  distriets  were 
growing  more  responsible  for  the  support  of  the  schools 
and  that  the  executive  duties  were  being  vested  in  the 
district  committees.  In  1803  was  established  the  custom 
of  the  selectmen  of  calling  a  meeting  of  citizens  in  each 
school  district,  and  of  choosing  a  committee  of  three  to 
"  superintend  the  business  of  said  district."  Each  district 
was  to  have  the  care  of  the  schoolhouses,  and  keep  them 
in  repair,  "  on  its  own  account."  This  same  year — 1803 — 
the  south  part  of  the  town  was  set  off,  and  known  as  Troy. 
This  necessitated  a  change  in  district  lines,  and  in  1805 
Benjamin  Weaver,  Charles  Strange  and  Job  Morton  were 
chosen  "to  revise  districts  and  adjust  arrears  of  schooling 
from  1801  to  1805."  By  reference  to  the  preceding  pages 
it  will  be  seen  that  districts  I  and  VII  now  belong  to  Troy. 
Districts  formerlv  II  and  III  were  united  as  South  District 
No.  I;  Assonet  West,  No.  II:  Assonet  East,  No.  Ill,  late 
No.  IX  (Tripp's),  now  No.  IV;  late  No.  X  (Forge),  now 
No.  V;  late  No.  V  (vSlab  Bridge),  now  No.  VI ;  late  No. 
VIII  <;Peregrine  White's),  now  No.  VII;  late  No.  VI  (East 
of  Bolton's  cedar  swamp),   now  No.  VIII. 

"Amount  due  each  district  according  to  recorded 
report  of  committee  : 

South  District.   No.  1 $187  91 

Assonet   West,    No.  2 52  38 

Assonet  East,   No.  :; 41   89 

No.   4 74  17 

No.  5  59  15 

No.  (i  24  60 

No.  7 49  20 

No.  8 54  50 

Benja.min  Weaver,  i 

Charles  Strange,   '   Committee.  "■ 

joi!   Morton,  j 

About  the  year  I804  a  new  schoolhouse  seemed  neces- 
sary in  East  Freetown,  and  Col.  Benjamin  Weaver,  Wil- 
liam Rounseville  and  Washington  Hathaway  were  chosen 

60 


a  committee  to  inspect  all  the  town  schools,  and  report. 
They  reported  the  need  of  a  school  in  the  neighborhood  of 
"  Backside,"  and  recommended  that  it  be  built  on  land 
belonging  to  Shubel  Howland,  located  a  short  distance 
north  of  the  residence  of  Alden  Lucas.  In  the  same  year 
the  town  voted  to  purchase  "  a  lot  of  land  that  belongs  to 
Wm.  Leonard,  for  a  schoolhouse  for  the  northerly  part  of 
As.sonet  district,  if  it  can  be  purchased  for  $100.""     A  build- 


THE   OLD    TOWN    HOUSE 


ing  of  two  rooms  was  desired,  which  should  be  known  as 
the  Town  House,  and  should  be  "  for  the  reception  of  the 
poor,  and  to  keep  school  in  forever.'"  The  old  house  near 
Assonet  Bridge  was  to  be  sold  at  public  auction.  The 
committee  appointed  reported  at  a  subsequent  meeting 
that,  in  their  opinion,  this  building  could  be  erected  for 
eight  hundred  dollars.  In  iMilt  Dean  Read  was  allotted 
the  contract  to  build  it,  for  eight  hundred  and  fifteen  dol- 


lars.  The  old  school  building-  was  sold  at  auction  for  three 
hundred  and  ninety  dollars,  and  finally  became  the 
property  of  Captain  Edmund  Hathaway. 

The  first  election  of  a  general  school  committee  ivas 
made    in    1813.        This    committee     consisted     of     Joseph 
Weaver,  Earl  vSampson  and  Hercules  Cushman  for  the  old 
part  of  the  town,   and  William   Rounseville,   Job  Morton 
and  Malachi  White  for  the  new  part.     But  the  people  were 
so  dissatisfied  with  this  plan  that  the  following-  year  they 
voted  to  "  return  to  plan  of  ls(»3."     April  11>,  isU,  it  was 
voted  that   "  Capt.   J.   Strange,    Major  Jos.  Weaver,  Capt. 
Benj.  Lawton,  Edmund  Pierce  and  Capt.  Lynde  Hathaway 
for  the  old  part  of  the  town,  and  Job  Morton,  Esq.,  Deacon 
Abram  Ashley  and  Mr.  Josiah  De  Moranville  for  the  new 
part,  be  a  committee  to  divide,   subdivide  and  revise  the 
school  districts,  as  shall  be  found  indispensable."     August 
IT),   lsl4,   thev  rendered  the  following  report;      "Begin- 
ning  at  the  dividing   line    between   Freetown  and  Troy, 
with    the   house    and     family    of    Stephen     Barnaby    and 
Ebenezer  Miller,  from  thence   on  post  road  northward  and 
eastward  to   Ephraim    Hathaway 's   and  to   Wm.    Borden's 
north  line,  'i-l  families  making  District  No.  I;  hence,  along 
post  road,  including  house  of  Pearce  Phillips,'''  and  all  fam- 
ilies on  Bryant's  Neck,  to  John  Dene's,  foot  of  Ridge  Hill, 
26  families  making  District  No.  H;  from  guide  post  near 
the  old  Quaker  meeting-house,  and  from  post  road  south- 
easterlv  on  Bedford  road  to  Cedar  Post,   or  the  house   of 
Jacob  Hatheway,  all  families  within  reach.  District  No. HI." 
A    school    building    situated    between  the  house  of    Silas 
Terry   and  that   of    Samuel   Bragg  was  probably  the  one 
used    for    this    district.      District    No.    IV  extended    from 
"the    foot    of  Ridge   Hill  to  Four  Corners,  including  the 
widow    Sarah    Chase,   containing  thirty   families;    District 
No.    V    from    Four    Corners    on   both    sides    down   Water 
.street,    westly     from     the    house    of    Elder    Philip    Hath- 
away,  to  the  hou.se  of  James  ^larbel  comprising  twenty- 

*Now  the  residence  of  Frank  F.  Terry. 

62 


nine  families."  The  school  building  was  located  a  little 
west  of  the  gunshop.  "Beginning  with  Washington 
Hathaway's  family  on  the  north  side  of  Water  street  to 
Four  Corners,  up  both  sides  of  Taunton  road  to  home  of 
Captain  Bliffins;  on  Plymouth  road  to  house  of  Nat 
Hathaway;  from  guide  post  at  Mill  Bridge,  on  Slab  Bridge 
road  to  home  of  Dan  Hathaway  31  families,  known  as 
District  No.  VI.  Forge  district  to  continue  and  remain 
/;/  statu  quo,  30  families,  District  No.  YII ;  lastly  all  families 
on  Taunton  Road,  from  Captain  Bliffins'  to  T.  F.  tree,* 
1?.  families.  District  No.   VHI." 

In  isl,")  the  town  chose  a  general  school  committee, 
while  the  residents  in  each  district  chose  a  "prudential 
committee,"  frequently  referred  to  as  school  agents.  "The 
school  committee  were  to  judge  the  qualifications  of  school 
masters ;  the  school  agents  were  to  notify  the  proper 
inhabitants  of  districts  in  which  they  respectively  resided 
to  attend  school  meetings  whenever  required  to  do  so  by 
the  people  thereof."  The  committee  for  the  new  part  of 
the  town  reported  the  necessity  of  a  division  of  the  dis- 
trict known  as  "Backside"  and  recommended  the  erection 
of  a  schoolhouse  nearer  the  Furnace.  This  building  was 
completed  in  ISls  on  land  of  Cornelius  Chace  at  the  east- 
ern extremity  of  the  Chace  road,  and  was  used  for  school 
purposes  until  the  year  1  si;  1  or  ISt'.'i  when  a  new  school- 
house  w^as  built  several  rods  west  of  it,  and  the  old  one 
sold  to  Reuel  Washburn.  In  ISlC  the  two  districts  south 
of  Ridge  Hill  were  united,  but  in  1S2<»  the  records  show 
that  their  school  building  was  burned.  When  rebuilt  it 
was  located  on  land  of  Captain  Job  Terry,  near  the  present 
.site  of  C.  P.  Hathaway's  harness  shop.  It  remained  here 
manv  vears,  but  finally,  in  consequence  of  the  increased 
population  on  Bryant's  Neck,  it  seemed  desirable  to 
change  the  district  line  and  move  the  building  farther 
north.      Captain  Terry  strongly  objected  and  forbade  the 

*Taunton-Preeto\vn  tree. 

(■,8 


removal.  The  following-  is  the  action  of  the  town  relative 
to  this  matter:  Voted  that  "the  whole  difference  as  to 
division  lines  between  districts  be  referred  to  a  committee 
to  consist  of  three  persons,  and  said  committee  be  and  are 
hereby  authorized  to  establish  such  lines  conditionally  or 
absolutely  as  school  committee  shall  think  expedient;" 
and  voted  that  "the  school  committee  be  a  committee  to 
settle  difference  in  districts  1  and  II  agreeable  to  vote  on 
E.     P.    Hathewav's    motion."     The   committee    evidentlv 


OLD    SOUTH    SCHOOL    HOUSE 

[From  Taintiug  by  M.  E.  N.  Hatmeway.) 

sided  with  the  majority,  for  the  building   was  moved  in 

vSpite  of  Captain  Terry's  protestations,   and  the  next  year, 

184:'2,    the  town    voted   to   pay   him  $5.44    which    he    had 

expended  in  instruction  ui  school  in  district  No.  I." 

•  The  old  building  near  the  dwelling  of  Thomas  Lucas, 

was  in  Ks2o  removed   to  the    Braley  district  and  situated 

where    the    "Chipway  road    and   Proprietors'   way  cross." 

The   town    voted  "$.")0   to  defray  the  expense  of  removal 

and   putting    in    repairs."      The    five    districts    in    New   or 

(j4 


East  Freetown  are  now  known  as  Oiianapoag'  Xo.  IX; 
vSlab  Bridge  Xo.  X;  Braley  Xo.  XI;  Mason's  Xo.  XII; 
and  Furnace  Xo.  XIII. 

In  1 S48  was  published  the  first  report  of  a  school 
committee  to  the  citizens  of  the  town.  The  election  of 
school  committee  for  a  period  of  three  years  was  first  made 
in  18.')S.  Thomas  G.  Xichols  was  elected  for  three  years, 
Philip  J.  Tripp  for  two  years,  and  George  Tyler  for  one 
year. 

In  }So()  the  Forge  district  was  divided  and  a  school 
maintained  near  Seth  Rowland's  home  on  the  Rowland 
Road.  Row  long  this  continued  is  uncertain,  but  prob- 
ably several  years.  The  "Old  Forge"  held  its  last  session 
during  the  winter  of  185<>  and  '57,  with  Rev.  A.  G.  Com- 
ings as  teacher.  The  present  Forge  School  building  was 
erected  in  Is^'rl.  In  the  meantime  some  of  the  children 
were  sent  to  the  village  school,  and  some  to  an  improvised 
school  opened  in  the  "corn  crib"  which  stands  in  the  yard 
of  the  late  Daniel  Macomber.  In  1851)  Districts  Xo.  VI 
(Village),  and  Xo.  X  (Slab  Bridge)  were  united,  and  in 
the  following  vear  Districts  No.  V  (Water  vStreet)  and  Xo. 
VIII  (Tripp's)  were  added  thereto. 

The  next  important  question  to  be  decided  was  the 
abolition  of  the  school  district  system.  A  great  majority 
clung  to  this  system  with  unyielding  tenacity,  but  the 
good  sense  of  the  people  finallv  prevailed,  and,  after  the 
(question  had  been  submitted  to  them  for  five  successive 
years,  it  was  carried  in  Isiil*  by  a  vote  of  forty-three  to 
forty.  The  threatened  loss  of  seventy-five  dollars  of  the 
State  School  Fund  tmdoubtedly  helped  the  citizens  to  vote 
on  the  right  side.  Massachusetts  in  1sn2  made  the  aboli- 
tion of  the  school  district  system  compulsory,  thus  ending 
one  of  the  longest  and  most  stul)bornly  contested  contro- 
versies in  the  school  historv  of  the  state. 

In  the  early  part  of  IsC.ii  a  new  house  was  built  in  the 
south  district,  the  scholars  attending,  during  its  erection, 
the  neighboring  school  most  convenient  for  them.      After 

65 


the  completion  of  this  house  the  Pound  school  was  dis- 
continued and  the  scholars  in  that  district  were  added  to 
the  South  and  Villag'e  districts,  which  gave  the  oppor- 
tunity, so  long  desired,  of  grading  the  village  school. 
In  this  same  year,  isc.K,  the  old  buildings  known  as  the 
Pound,  Forge,  and  Tripp  were  sold  and  subsequently 
converted  into  dwelling  houses. 

Although  improvements  have  been  made  in  school 
accommodations  and  management  from  year  to  year  since 
ISOy,  few  of  them  are  noteworthy.  The  school-rooms 
today  are  well  lighted  and  well  ventilated  and  as  efficiently 
equipped  as  the  average  country  school.  The  teaching 
force  is  good.  The  text-books  since  1884  give  equal 
opportunities  to  all.  When  we  hear  people  sigh  for  the 
good  old  days,  "when  I  was  a  bov,"  we  should  know 
that  education  fifty  years  ago  consisted  of  memorv  tasks, 
mostly  meaningless,  to  which  children  were  driven  by 
fear  of  the  rod.  Of  the  numerous  teachers  who  were 
em])love(l  here  during  some  part  of  the  century  pist 
closed,  few  believed  in  sparing  the  rod.  But  memory 
dwells  rather  u])on  the  patience  and  tact  of  those  instruc- 
tors, and  calls  up  many  names  ever  to  be  honored  and 
cherished.  Among  them  mav  be  mentioned  vStephen 
Crary,  Harriet  Briggs,  Philip  J.  Tripp,  Walter  D.  Nich- 
ols, Elizabeth  (i.  Hathaway,  Susan  Phillips,  Nancy  Gray, 
Jennie  Harper,  Minnie  Chace  and  Melora  Whitcomb.  No 
doubt  there  are  others,  Init  the  writer's  attention  has  been 
directed  to  these  as  deserving  of  special  mention. 

From  among  those  who  have  contributed  to  the  cause 
of  education,  the  name  of  Florence  Hathawav,  now  Mrs. 
Crowell,  should  not  be  omitted.  To  her  belongs  the 
honor  of  being  the  first  woman  in  this  town  to  exercise 
her  privilege  of  \-oting  on  school  affairs.  She  was  also 
the  first  woman  here  to  serve  in  tlie  capacitv  of  scliool 
committee,  to  which  office  she  was  elected  in  March, 
l.'sltl.  Though  no  longer  a  resident,  her  influence  is  still 
felt,  and    will   continue   to   be    felt    l)y  rising  generations. 

6G 


In  ^larcli,  IMHi,  Freetown  x'oted  to  unite  witli  anv 
other  town  or  towns  in  the  emploN'ment  of  a  distriet 
superintendent  of  sehools ;  but  it  was  not  until  ten  years 
hiter,  April,  llMio,  that  a  tmion  with  vSwansea  and  Seekonk 
was  effeeted  and  a  stiperintendent  employed.  This  may 
be  considered  the  last  important  change  in  the  educa- 
tional system  of  this  town.  May  its  citizens  constantly 
strive  to  cultivate  a  progressive  spirit  in  the  conduct  of 
its  schools,  with  open  mind  to  recognize  the  best  and  will 
to  appropriate  it,  for  in  pul^lic  education  lies  social  safety. 

An  article  of  this  kind  would  hardly  be  complete 
without  some  mention  of  the  private  schools  which  existed 
in  such  numbers  in  the  past  century,  and  of  which  Freetown 
had  her  share.  In  ITIm;  the  town  voted  "to  give  the  use 
of  the  schoolhouses  within  the  town,  when  not  in  use  by 
the  town,"  for  private  schools.  It  would  be  imp(~)ssible 
to  mention  all  who  taught  private  schools,  but  a  great 
injustice  would  be  done  should  the  name  of  Pulcheria 
Cordelia  Olivia  Bump  fall  into  oblivion.  Mrs.  Biimp 
was  an  Olney,  and  it  is  said,  was  connected  with  the 
family  of  ex-Secretarv  of  State  Olney.  Her  home  was 
at  Providence,  and  it  was  while  a  student  at  I-Jrown 
University  that  Dr.  Bump  became  acquainted  with  her. 
They  were  subsequently  married,  and  located  here  about 
isis.  The  Paddock  hou.se  became  their  permanent  home. 
Here  Mrs.  Bump  opened  a  private  school  and  taught 
music,  painting,  embroidery  and  French  to  the  young 
people  of  the  town.  Dr.  Bump  gave  instruction  in  Latin. 
Mrs.  Bump  was  a  woman  who  awoke  the  admiration  of 
all  with  whom  she  came  in  contact  for  her  pleasing  man- 
ners and  easy  conversational  p:)wer.  Her  infltience  in 
arousing  their  ambition  and  in  forming  their  taste  was 
an  appreciable  factor  in  the  lives  of  all  iier  pupils.  To 
her  may  be  given  the  credit  of  much  of  the  culture  and 
refinement  here  today. 

In  the  upper  part  of  the  gambrel -roofed  house  on  the 
north   side  of  the  "  Assonet   (rreat    I5ridge"  was  a  liall    in 

07 


which  Benjamin  Crane  kept  a  private  school  of  much 
note.  He  was  the  father  of  PLdward  Crane,  who  at  one 
time  edited  an  American  paper  in  Paris,  and  who  ren- 
dered assistance  to  the  Empress  Eugenie  in  her  flight 
from  France. 

^lany  other  men  of  recognized  educational  ability 
have  gone  forth  from  this  little  town  and  held  honored 
places.      It  is  not  the  purpose  of  this  chapter  to  summar- 


RESIDENCE   OF    WILLIAM    DEaN. 

ize  all  the  various  indi\-iduals  who  have  been  teachers 
or  been  graduated  from  the  higher  institutions  of  learn- 
ing. Yet  it  is  a  noteworthy  fact  that  on  the  records  of 
Berlin  University,  of  Holyoke,  I^>r<)wn,  Yale,  Harvard, 
Union,  Smith.  Radclifle.  Cornell,  and  Wcllesley  Colleges 
of  Massachusetts  Institute  of  Technologv,  of  the  Wor- 
cester Polytechnic  and  Pratt  Institutes,  may  l)e  found 
enrolled  the  names  of  the  sons  and  daughters  of  "Ye 
Ancient   Town    of    l-'reetown."' 

08 


GUILFORD   H,    HATHAWAY   LIBRARY. 


The  Guilford  H.  Hathaway 
Library. 


THE  GUILFORD  H.  HATHAWAY  LIBRARY  is  a 
pretty  little  building  occupying  a  central  position  in 
Assonet  Village.  It  was  biiilt  in  1895,  and  given  to  the 
town  by  Miss  E.  Florence  Hathaway,  now  Mrs.  J.  F. 
Crowell.  as  a  memorial  of  her  father.  The  gift  was 
especially  appreciated  by  the  people,  because  they  had 
ofrown  to  realize  that  the  town-office,  which  had  served 
them  as  library  for  three  years,  was  quite  inadequate  to 
their  growing-  needs,  besides  causing  much  inconvenience 
to  the  town  officers.  This  makeshift  library  was,  however, 
an  important  step  in  the  right  direction,  and  one  for  which 
we  have  again  to  thank  Miss  Hathaway.  It  was  she  who 
by  her  own  personal  efforts  so  interested  the  town  in  the 
question,  that  finally  at  the  Town  Meeting  held  in  Ma»ch, 
1.S92,  it  was  voted  to  organize  a  library.  Mr.  George  B. 
Cud  worth,    Mr.   Gilbert   M.    Nichols  and    Miss   Hathaway 

li*) 


'were  appointed  as  trus- 
tees, and  the  appropri- 
■  ation      of      twenty-five 


dollars  made,  neeessarv 


GUILFORD     H.    HATHAWAY. 


•  to  establish  a  elaini  on 
the  one  hundred  dol- 
lars offered  by  the 
State.  The  State  sent 
promptly  its  money 
equivalent  in  books, 
and  the  library  was 
be^^un.  Books  were 
distributed  and  re- 
eeived  twiee  a  week, 
Miss  Hathaway  giving- 
her  services  as  libra- 
rian every  Thursday 
afternoon, and  Mr.  Cud- 
.  worth  and  Mr.  Nichols 
alternating  on  Saturday 
nights.  To  meet  the 
growing  demands  of  its  patrons.  Miss  Hathaway  solicited 
money,  and  received  encouraging  returns  from  Mrs. 
Rachel  Plummer,  of  Assonet,  Mr.  Bailey  Evans,  of  Provi- 
dence, and  Mrs.  Mary  M.  Gager  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 
When  the  library  began  to  outgrow  its  limits,  and  there 
was  talk  of  moving  to  another  part  of  the  Town  Hall,  Miss 
Hathaway  came  forward  with  her  generous  proposition, 
and  the  present  library  was  the  ultimate  result.  Mr.  John 
D.  Wilson  gave  the  lot,  the  charge  of  building  was  under- 
taken by  Mr.  Cudworth  and  Mr.  Nichols,  and  the  work 
was  promptl)-  and  satisfactorily  carried  through.  The 
library  was  ready  for  the  public  in  the  fall  of  IS');"),  and  at 
once  found  eager  and  appreciative  patrons.  Its  main  room 
is  amply  lighted  day  and  evening,  and  is  furnished  with  a 
reading-table  well-stocked  with  current  magazines  and 
weeklies.      These  are  a  gift  from  the  ladies  of  the  Tuesday 

70 


MRS.   J.   F.   CROWELL- 
(Formerly  E.  Flokknce  Hathaway.) 


free  in  consideration 
of  her  services  as  libra- 
rian. Miss  Charlotte 
Nichols  has  kindly  giv- 
en much  of  her  time 
on  Saturday  evenings. 
The  town  has  never 
ceased  to  be  grateful 
for  Miss  Hathaway's 
gift,  and  appropriates 
annually  an  increasing 
amount  for  its  mainte- 
nance. This  and  the 
income  derived  from  a 
bequest  of  $5(M»  made 
by  Mrs.  (xager  in  Is'i'.t 
insure  to  the  town  a 
steady  and  satisfactor\- 
growth  in  one  of  its 
most  useful  institu- 
tions. 


Club,  an  organization 
also  owing  its  origin  to 
Miss  Hathaway.  The 
volumes  now  number 
about  twelve  hundred 
and  fifty.  They  are 
selected  bv  the  trus- 
tees, ^Ir.  Cud  worth, 
}^[i\  Xichols,  and  Mrs. 
H.  ^[.  Irons,  the  last 
elected  to  take  Miss 
Hatha  w  a  }■ '  s  place 
when  she  gave  up  her 
residence  herein  IsUo. 
The  building  has  no 
regular  attendant,  but 
is  placed  in  charge  of 
the  postmistress  who 
has  her  office  here  rent- 


JOHN    D     WILSON 


Military    History. 


BY   COL.    SILAS    P.    RICHMOND. 


THE  WRITER  fully  realizes  that  this  brief  chapter 
will  not  do  justice  to  the  subject  in  hand;  but  he 
will  make  it  as  broad  and  comprehensive  as  his  ability 
will  permit,  and  vouches  for  its  trutlifuhic^s  as  far  as  his 
knowledge  extends. 

During  the  struggle  of  Plymouth  Colony  with  the 
Indians,  that  portion  of  the  country  which  later  became 
the  Freemen's  Purchase  was  mostly  occupied  by  the  red 
men.  Hence  we  find  but  few  white  men  from  that  local- 
itv  mentioned  in  the  Indian  wars.  vSamuel  Nash,  the 
owner  of  the  twentv-first  lot.  where  Assonet  now  stands, 
commanded  a  force  against  the  Indians  in  ItUT).  And 
there  were  some  men  from  this  section  who  served  with 
that  great  Indian  fighter.  Colonel  Church.  Colonel 
Thomas  Cilbert  commanded  a  company  in  the  forces  sent 
to  Cape  Breton  in  ITl."*.  Later  he  was  lieutenant  colonel 
of  Second  Regiment,  Bristol  County  Militia,  under  Colonel 
Ezra  Richmond,  and  fought  in  the  French  and  Indian 
War.  He  was  a  Tory  and  commanded  a  battalion  in  the 
King's  forces  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  General 
Gage  sent  him  an    "cspontoon." 

For  a  long  time  Colonel  Gilbert  was  a  man  of  wealth 
and  a  leader  in  Assonet ;  and  many  men  who  were  secretly 
Whigs  dared  not  declare  their  principles  for  fear  of  him. 
But  later  the  Whigs  obtained  control  and  Colonel  (lilbcrt 
was  driven  out  and  his  property  confiscated.  Captain 
Ambrose    Barnaby   was  one   of  the  most  wealthy  men  in 

72 


Freetown  in  lT.")<t.  and  at  that  time  he  was  a  Tory,  but 
later  he  became  a  AVhig-  and  exerted  great  influence  in  the 
Patriots'  cause. 

Captain  Levi  Rouns\-ill  was  a  Tor\-  in  IVr.s,  but  later 
became  a  Whig,  and  was  eai)tain  of  the  Minute  Men  of 
Freetown  who  responded  to  the  hrst  call,  known  as  the 
"Lexington  Alarm,"  April  li»,  177.').  The  roster  of  the 
company  was  as  follows: —  Captain,  Levi  Rounsvill ; 
Lieutenants,  Samuel  Taber  and  Natt  Morton ;  Sergeants, 
John  White  and  Consider  Crapo ;  Corporals,  Joshua  Law- 
rence and  Seth  Hilman.  Privates,  Philip  Taber,  LTriel 
Peirce,  Benj.  Lawrence,  Abiel  Cole.  Consider  ^Vhite, Jesse 
Keen,  Jacob  Benson,  John  Clark,  John  Braley,  Percival 
Ashley,  Ichabod  Johnson,  ^Michael  Ashley,  vSeth  Morton, 
Jeff  Sachems,  Lsrael  Haskell,  Louis  DeMoranville,  Abram 
Ashley,  Charles  DeMoranville,  Aaron  Seekel,  Abner 
Haskins,  Benjamin  Runnells,  Thomas  Rounsvill,  Peter 
Crapo  and  Joseph  Racket. 

The  first  company  of  militia  was  formed  in  Freetown 
in  1083,  and  was  commanded  by  Thomas  Terry.  This  com- 
pany retained  its  organization  for  more  than  one  hundred 
years,  and  had  two  terms  of  service  in  the  War  of  the 
Revolution,  and  was  commanded  in  that  war  bv  Captain 
Benjamin  Read.  The  roll  of  the  companv  in  17s<>,  was 
as  follows :  — 

Captain,  Benjamin  Read  ;  Lieut.,  Philip  Hathawa\-  jr. 
Ensign,  Benjamin  Evans;  Sergts.,  Guilford  Evans,  vSam- 
uel  Hathaway  and  vSilas  Hathawav ;  Corps.,  David  Doug- 
lass and  John  Payne;  Musicians,  fames  Winslow  and 
George  Winslow  ;  Privates,  Ephruim  I')riggs,  [olm  Briggs, 
Abner  Briggs,  Daniel  Braman,  Isaac  I^>urbank,  (Greenfield 
Chace,  Jesse  Cud  worth,  (rilbert  Chacc.  George  Chace  Jr., 
Richard  Clark,  Fairfax  Cliace,  Thomas  ICvans,  lohn  I^>vans 
Jr.,  (ruilford  (irinnell,  Daniel  (irinnell,  P)cniamin  (irin- 
nell,  Jonathan  Hathaway  Jr.,  Seth  Hathaway,  Joseph 
Hathaway,  Robert  Ilathawaw  lames  Hathawav  [r.,  Silas 
Hathaway,     I'^bcn     Hathawav,     IV'ler     |uckct.     job     Keen. 


Walter  Nichols,  vSoloiiion  Payne,  \Varden  Payne,  Job 
Payne,  Benjamin  Porter.  Samuel  Richmond,  Riifus  Ray- 
mond, William  Read,  Isaac  Record,  Charles  Strange, 
James  Strange,  Lot  Strange,  Job  Terry,  Solomon  Terry, 
Abiel  Terry  Jr.,  Benjamin  Weaver,  David  Winslow, 
Oliver  Winslow,  William  Win.slow,  Richard  Winslow, 
Ezra  Winslow  and  Thomas  Winslow. 

The  second  company  of  Freetown,  Capt.  Henry 
Brightman,  and  the  third  company  of  Freetown,  Capt. 
James  Norton  also  participated  in  this  campaign.  The.se 
companies  served  in  a  regiment  of  which  John  Hathaway 
was  Colonel;  vSylvester  Richmond  Lieut. -Col.  ;  Manas.seh 
Kempton  and  Joseph  Durfee  Majors.  Capt.  Benjamin 
Weaver  commanded  a  company  in  the  Patriot  Army  and 
was  promoted  to  Lieut. -Col.  July  10,  ITSS. 

Col.  Joseph  Durfee  commanded  the  forces  which 
repelled  the  British  attack  on  Freetown  at  Fall  River,  May 
25,  177S.  Capt.  James  Richmond  and  Jonathan  Rich- 
mond were  in  the  marine  service  of  the  Patriots,  1T7S-80. 
Jail  Hathawav  and  (leorge  Chace  were  captains  in 
Col.  Thomas  Gilbert's  battallion  of  Tories. 

David  Valentine  of  Fall  River,  in  Freetown,  was  the 
general  of  the  Bristol  County  men  in  the  vShays  Rebellion. 
He  fled  to  England  after  the  defeat  of  the  rebels,  but 
afterwards  returned  and  was  pardoned.  No  other  promi- 
nent men  in  Freetown  were  with  the  rebels  at  that  time. 

Capt.  Benjamin  Weaver,  who  commanded  the  first 
Company  of  Militia  in  Freetown  at  that  time,  by  the  vigi- 
lance of  himself  and  his  men,  saved  the  government  sup- 
plies from  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  rebels. 

Freetown  furnished  two  com|)anics  in  the  War  of 
lsl-_>.      The  roster  of  the  tirst  company  was  as  follows: 

Captain,  Lvnde  Hathaway;  Lieut.,  Thomas  Burbank  ; 
Scrgts.,  Joseph  l^.vans.  Preserved  Cotton  and  Joseph 
Evans  2d;  Musicians.  Calvin  Pavncand  William  Winslow  ; 
Privates,  Zephaniah  Andros,  Thomas  Pooth,  William 
Burr,     Luther    P>riggs,    Is.iac    Purbank,    Josephus    Priggs, 


John  Brigi^'s.  vStephen  Burden,  Holder  Chaee,  Edmund 
Chace,  Simeon  Chaee,  Samuel  Chace,  Gilbert  Chace,  James 
Chace,  John  D.  Cudworth,  Michael  Chace,  Daniel  Doug- 
lass Jr.,  Paul  Davis,  John  Dean,  John  Dean  2d,  Ebenezer 
Dean,  King  Dean,  Benj.  Dean  Jr..  Joshua  Downing,  Wil- 
liam Evans,  Lemuel  Edminster,  Ephraim  Hathaway,  Dan- 
iel Hathaway,  Lot  Hathaway,  iSIichael  Hathaway,  Joseph 
Hathaway  I'd,  Ennis  Hathaway,  Jason  Hathawav,  Henrv 
P.  Hathaway,  Noah  Hathaway,  Bradford  Hathawav,  John 
Haskins,  Malachi  Howland,  vSeth  Howland,  Enoch  Hath- 
away, Silas  Hathaway,  Philip  Hathaway,  Malbone  Hath- 
away, Joseph  Marble,  Ebenezer  Miller,  Mason  Martin, 
Charles  Marble,  William  Nichols,  John  Nichols,  Henry 
Payne,  Baalis  Phillips,  Peirce  Phillips,  vSolomon  Payne, 
Abram  Payne,  George  Pickens,  Adino  Paddock,  Henry 
Porter,  John  V.  Pratt,  John  Read,  Dean  H.  Read,  Joseph 
Read,  Thomas  Randall,  Benjamin  Raymond,  Abram 
Richmond,  Isaac  Richmond,  vSamuel  Richmond,  (xilbert 
vStaples,  John  vStrange,  Joshua  Seekel,  Joseph  Terry, 
Thomas  Terry,  Silas  Terry,  John  Wilkinson,  James  Web- 
ster, Darius  Wilbur,  Barnaby  Winslow,  Ephraim  Wins- 
low  Jr.,  (rilbert  Winslow,  Kenelm  Winslow,  William 
Winslow. 

The  roll  of  the  second  Company  was  as  follows: 
Capt.,  Simeon  Ashley;  Ensign,  Samuel  Macomber; 
Sergts.,  Bishop  Ashley,  John  Rounsvill,  Gilbert  Rounsvill, 
Philip  Taber.  John  Allen,  Benjamin  Ellis,  Josiah 
DeMoranville,  and  Clark  Haskins:  Musicians,  Ephraim 
(kirney  and  Thomas  Rounsvill  Jr.  :  Privates,  Abram  Ash- 
ley -Id,  Al)rani  Ashley  Dd,  Taber  Ashlcv,  Thomas  Ashlev, 
Leonard  Ashley,  Jonathan  Braley,  Job  P)ralcy.  Abiel 
Briggs,  John  P)ent,  Asa  Clark  Jr..  Joseph  Clark,  George 
Cummings,  J.  Cummings,  Willkam  Case,  i'^rcdcrick  Down 
ing,  James  Gorham,  David  S.  iPiLhawav,  i'hilip  Hath- 
away, Natt.  Hathaway,  Xalt.  Juckct,  David  Lawrence, 
Spencer  Lawrence,  Ascl  Lucas.  Hezckiah  Mason.  Ncjah 
Perkins,   Ira  Piltslcv.  Ahrani    l'iUsle\-.   Alexander  PiUslev, 


James  Pittslcv,  Mike  Reynolds  j  r.,  Wilbur  Reynolds,  Luther 
Rogers,  Silas  Rounsville,  John  Tobey,  James  White,  John 
White,  ^Slalaehi  White,  Samuel  White,  Jr.,Wm.  Westgate. 
Company  "Ct"  of  Assonet  in  Freetown  was  chartered 
on  petition  of  Robert  P.  vStrobridge  and  fifty-two  others. 
The  petition  was  granted  in  (reneral  Order  Xo.  12,  Boston, 
^lass.,  June  7,  Js.M',  "providing  that  within  six  months  at 
least  fortv-eight  men  shall  be  enlisted."  vSilas  P.  Rich- 
mond, John  W.  Marble,  Ebenezer  W.  Peirce  and  Oeorge 
D.  Williams  signed  the  enlistment  paper  on  June  S,  1850, 
and  forty-seven  others  signed  within  the  next  two  days. 
On  June  14,  1850  an  election  of  othcers  was  ordered  in 
General  Order  No.  14,  directed  to  Robert  P.  vStrobridge. 
June  21>,  1850  officers  were  elected  as  follows  :  Capt.,  Eben- 
ezer  W.  Peirce;  1st  Lieut.,  Augustus  C.  Barrows;  !2nd 
Lieut.,  (liles  L.  Leach;  ;!d  Lieut.,  John  W.  ^Marble ;  4th 
Lieut.,  Daniel  H.  Cud  worth.  By  (xcneral  Order  No.  78, 
July  5,  iSoO  the  Company  was  lettered  "(t,"  and  attached 
to  the  ?>d  Regiment,  2d  Brigade,  1st  Division,  M.  V.  M. 
July  1<»,  l'S50  Robert  P.  Strobridge  was  appointed  first 
sergeant  and  clerk. 

The  first  duty  of  the  company  was  in  the  escort  at  the 
funeral  of  President  Taylor  in  Boston,  August  15,  l,s5o. 
During  the  following  ten  years  the  company  was  com- 
manded bv  Captains  Augustus  C.  Barrows,  John  W.  Mar- 
ble, Silas  P.  Richmond,  James  M.  Mathcwson.  and  John 
W.  Marble  a  second  term.  Company  (i  was  the  school 
of  the  officers  and  forty-two  of  the  soldiers  of  b'rcctown 
who  fought  in  the  war  to  preserve  the  Union. 

In  the  Civil  War  of  1  Ml  1-5,  Freetown  responded  nobly. 
At  that  tinie  there  were  two  hundred  and  forty  men  in 
town  between  the  ages  of  eighteen  and  forty-tive  who  were 
able  to  do  military  duty.  Of  these,  one  hundred  and 
fifty-live  men  enlisted  and  served  the  United  States, 
manv  of  them  serving  two  and  three  terms  each;  and 
of  these,  cightcoi  were  coimnissioiud  otfifirs,  including  one 
General,  two  Colonels  and  a  Major.    A  large  number  of  them 


laid  down  their  lives,  on  the  held  of  battle,  in  the  hospi- 
tals and  in  the  rebel  prisons,  for  the  Union  they  loved. 

The  "  ]^Iinnte  Men"  from  FreetoAvn  who  went  to 
the  front  April  \~>,  Isdl,  were: — Brit^.  General  Ebenezer 
W.  Peiree;  Capt.  and  A.  D.  C.  Silas  P.  Riehmond;  Capt. 
John  A\\  Marble;  1st.  Lieut.  Humphrey  A.  Franeis ;  2d 
Lieut.  John  ^L  Dcane ;  Sergts.  James  H.  Hathaway  and 
Oeorge  D.  Williams;  Corps.  Frederic  Thayer  and  Chester 
W.  Prig-gs;  Privates  James  C.  Clark,  James  H.  Haskell, 
Russel  Haskins,  Ephraim  H.  Haskins,  Charles  R.  Has- 
kins,  George  H.  Haskins,  Urial  ^L  Haskins,  David  P. 
Hill,  Russel  H.  Hathawav,  John  ]\Ldeom,  Columbus 
Peiree,  Luther  Piekens,  (reorge  F.  Putnam.  LApvard  E. 
Read,  Welcome  H.  Richmond,  James  IP  Whittaker  and 
Benedict  A.  Winslow. 

The  Freetown  men  who  went  into  the  field  with  the 
:5d   Regt.  ]\Lass.  Vols,  in  \sir2,  were:  — 

Col.  Silas  P.  Richmond;  Capt.  John  \V.  Marble; 
Sergts.  James  H.  Hathaway,  Stephen  Hathaway  and 
Frederic  Thaver ;  Corps.  Urial  M.  Haskins,  Ephraim  PL 
Haskins  and  David  P.  Hill;  Privates  Albert  R.  Ashley, 
Francis  G.  Priggs,  Franklin  [.  Chace.  Sumner  J.  Chip- 
man,  (icorge  Duffee,  Andrew  T.  Hambly,  (reorge  H. 
Haskins,  James  H.  Haskell,  Otis  Haskell,  Aaron  D. 
Hathaway,  Andrew  J.  Hathawav,  Lvnde  IrLithaway, 
Andrew  J.  Horr,  Shubael  G.  Howland,  Thomas  \V.  Mur- 
taugh, George  A.  Paine,  l^dwin  PL  Rennis,  ImIwIu  S.  Rouns- 
\-ille.  Simon  I).  Rounsville,  Asa  Spooner  Jr.,  Picnedict  A. 
Winslow,  (icorge    F.  Wilcox  and    Marccnah    15.  Wilcox. 

The  men  from  l-'reetown  enlisting  in  the  ifl'th  Regt. 
Mass.  \^)ls.,  were: — Col.  i^benezer  W.  Peiree;  Major 
John  M.  Deane;  Capt.  George  D.  Williams ;  Lieut.  Charles 
(j.  Losworth;  Corp.  ^lartin  \'an  15.  Haskell;  Musician 
James  Pootb  ;  I'rivates  |ohn  Pootli,  Abram  Haskell,  ICph- 
raim  Haskelb  Wilbam  "llaskell.  Henry  L.  Hill,  Michael 
Malony.  Albert  R.  Pittsley,  James  Pittslew  William 
Pittslev,     Culbert    Revnolds,   Cornelius   Westu^ate,    IClisha 


Westgate,  Elislia  B.  West^'ate,  John  Westgate,  Joseph 
Westo^ate,  |()sc])h  L.  West<;'ate,  Preserved  Westj^ate  and 
P^hvard  Wilbur. 

The  Freetown  men  who  joined  the  .Vsth  Regt.,  Mass. 
A'ols.,  were: — Col.  Silas  P.  Riehmond  ;  Lieut.  Ephraim 
H.  Haskins ;  Sergts.  Aaron  D.  Hathaway  and  Abram 
T.  Haskell  ;  Corps.  Mareenah  B.  Wileox  and  Peter  A, 
]\Iaker ;  Privates  Franeis  G.  Brigg's,  Thomas  Brown,  Enos 
B.  Payne,  Philip  A.  Wileox,  Alson  G.  i\shley,  Abiel 
Hathaway,  David  B.  Hill,  William  E.  Pratt,  William  S. 
Winslow,  Jonathan  Hervey,  Richard  A.  Maconiber,  (reorge 
E.  PatterscHi,  Charles  H.  Read,  ()eta\'ins  \".  Robinson  and 
Benedict  A.  Winslow. 

The  men  from  Freetown  who  ser\'ed  in  the  22d  Unat- 
tached Co.,  Mass,  Vols.,  were: — Capt.  John  W.  ]Marble  ; 
Lients.  Urial  M.  Haskins  and  Chester  AV.  Briggs ;  vSergts. 
Fred.  A.  Thaver,  Sumner  J.  Chipman  and  Andrew  J. 
Hathawav ;  Corps.  ^Velcome  H.  Richmond,  George  H. 
Flaskins,  Franklin  ].  Chaee,  Edwin  T.  Rounsville,  luhvin 
R.  Philips,  Wm.  R.  Dean,  Andrew  J.  Thresher  and  Eugene 
Hathawav;  Privates  Alexander  E.  Bragg,  Ebenezer  Briggs, 
Svlvester  R.  Briggs.  Azel  Chaee,  George  B.  Cudworth, 
Reuel  \V.  Davis,  George  H.  Dean,  Albert  A.  P>vans, 
Andrew  T.  Hamblv,  Abram  H.  Haskell,  James  H.  Has- 
kell, William  Haskell.  Job.  T.  Hathaway,  Lynde  Hatha- 
way, Samuel  C.  Hathaway,  George  ().  Houghton,  John 
H.  Kennison,  Simeon  C.  Leach,  Job  V.  Lucas,  Peter  A. 
Maker,  John  H.  Nichols,  Charles  C.  Pavne,  LIenr\'  11 
Payne,  Lewis  P.  Phillips,  William  Pratt,  William  H.  Pratt- 
John  B.  Rose,  Philander  Rouus\-ille,  Hiram  tL  Simmons, 
William  Thorpe,  Joseph  IC  Wea\'er,  Thomas  \Vestgate, 
Ambrose  B.  Winslow,  Jose])h  W.  \Vinslow,  Kenelm 
Winslow,  William   II.  Winslow  and    I':ilery  Wyatt. 

The  Freetown  men  in  the  I'.  S.  Xa\'v  were:  —  I'>ngi- 
neers,  Iidbridge  Lawlou  and  Andrew  Lawton  ;  I^nsign, 
II.  I'Llbridge  Tinkh;im  ;  Pilots,  James  W.  I:5urr  and  William 
Read:  Seaman,   R.  A.  ^Licomber  and  John  II.   Peirce. 


The  f()ll()win<4'  I'reetown  men  served  the  Ignited 
States  in  1  sfil -('•,")  in  other  or'^'anizations  than  those  before 
mentioned: — Capt.  Albert  B.  Ashley,  -l-th  Mass.  Caw  and 
U.  S.  C.  T.  ;  Capt.  Darius  A.  Cudworth.  isth  Mo.  Vols.; 
Capt.  James  R.  Mathewson.  7th  ]Mass.  \"ols.  ;  Lieut,  (jeors^e 
Durfee,  4th  Cav.  and  U.  S.  C.  T.  ;  Lieut,  (leorj^-e  H. 
Winslow,  2t'ith  Mass.  \'ols.  ;  Henry  H.  vSproat,  AL  D., 
Asst.  Suru;.,  U.  S.  C.  T.  ;  Capt.  Hiram  B.  Wetherell.  O.  ^L, 
U.  S.  A,:  Horaee  (t.  Ashley,  Franeis  Allen,  jolm  H. 
Alton,  Alson  G.  Ashley,  Alon/.o  H.  Braley,  Philo  L. 
Braley,  Cornelius  E.  Bliss,  Robert  Brand,  George  W. 
Burnham,  Thomas  E.  Bliffins.  Franklin  G.  Chaee,  Fisher 
A.  Cleveland.  William  A.  Case,  Azel  Chaee,  Joshua  Els- 
bree,  George  W.  Ellis,  William  H.  Fisher,  (Mexican 
War),  Charles  Gallinger,  Herbert  L.  Hathawav,  Calvin 
Horr,  James  Hervey,  William  H.  Henderson,  Robert  S. 
Jenkins,  George  McCully,  Samuel  A.  ]\Lieomber,  Richard 
A.  ]\Lacomber,  John  H.  Peirce,  Eber  A.  Rav,  John  Sulli- 
van, Calvin  Thomas,  Jr.,  James  F.  A'inal,  Francis  H.  Vinal. 
Lemuel  A.  Washburn. 

As  a  majority  of  the  people  in  Freetown  had  relatives 
or  especial  friends  in  old  Company  (t,  r»rd  Regt.,  M.  V.  M., 
I  have  deemed  it  proper  to  add  a  few  further  items  in  its 
history.  It  has  already  been  told  that  its  first  tour  of  dutv 
was  in  the  escort  at  the  Tavlor  funeral  in  Boston.  Its 
next  tour  of  duty,  out  of  town,  was  at  the  annual  brigade 
muster  in  I->ast  Bridgewater  in  Septeml)er,  1  s.'iO,  less  than 
three  months  after  its  organization.  And  at  that  muster 
Co.  (t  bore  off  the  honors  at  the  prize  drill  of  all  the  com- 
panies in  the  brigade.  Companv  G  was  also  in  the  escort 
at  the  rece]:»tion  of  the  Prince  of  Wales  in  Boston  in  Isf>o. 
Its  ser\-ice  in  the  war  was  as  follows: — April  l.'),  \s{\\,  at 
ten  o'clock  P.  M.,  Brig.  Major  George  Clark.  ]v.,  arrived 
from  New  Bedford  on  horseback  with  orders  for  the  com- 
panv to  re])ort  in  P^oston  the  next  daw  At  4  p.  m.,  A])ril 
If),  we  took  tile  cars  for  Boston, — in  the  hurrv  some  of  the 
members  of  the   company  were   not    warned, — and   on   ar- 

7!l 


ri\-al  was  cinarterccl  in  ( )ld  Colony  Depot  hall  for  that 
nit;-ht.  At  »')  P.  ]\1.,  April  17th,  we  marched  to  the  State 
Hotise  to  receive  equipments.  Overcoats,  flannel  shirts, 
knapsacks,  haversacks,  tin  cups,  knives  and  forks  and  can- 
teens were  issued.  Thence  we  marched  to  Central  Wharf 
and  on  board  the  steamer  S.  R.  Spaulding.  Citizens  cheered 
as  we  marched  through  the  streets,  and  a  salute  of  cannon 
and  small  arms  was  fired  from  Central  Wharf  as  the 
steamer  dropped  into  the  stream.  ( )n  the  morning  of  the 
1  sth  we  sailed  under  sealed  orders.  Xine  miles  at  sea  our 
sealed  orders  were  opened  and  we  found  our  destination  to 
be  Fortress  ]\Iouroe,  Va.  On  April  I'.'th,  the  anniversary 
of  the  battle  of  Lexington,  the  National  and  State  colors 
were  hoisted  and  saluted  and  the  day  duly  commemorated. 
April  2<tth  we  arrived  at  Fortress  Monroe;  landed  and 
stacked  arms  on  the  Parade  Ground,  and  slept  a  few  hours 
in  the  sun.  At  4  P.  M.,  on  the  same  day,  after  a  light 
ration,  we  were  ordered  on  board  the  U.  vS.  Gunboat 
Pawnee.  Ammunition  was  issued,  and  we  sailed  at  .■).:!<> 
P.  M.  for  Norfolk  Na\-v  Yard,  passing,  without  molesta- 
tion, obstructions  in  the  channel,  a  seven  gun  batterv  at 
vSewell's  Point  and  Forts  "  Norfolk"  and  "  Nelson,"'  all  in 
possession  of  the  rebels.  We  arrived  at  the  Navy  Yard 
at  it  p.  m.,  rvrr  narrowly  escaping  being  fired  ttpon  by  the 
entire  broadsides  of  the  Men-of-War  vShips  "  Pennsylva- 
nia "  and  "Cumberland,"  having  been,  bv  them,  mistaken 
for  enemies.  ( )n  discovering  who  we  were  a  cheer  arose 
from  the  Cumberland,  which  we  answered,  and  the  bands 
on  the  other  ships  played  National  airs.  We  found  the 
U.  S.  ships  Merrimac,  (iermantown  and  Pl\-mouth  already 
.scuttled  and  sinking.  All  hands  were  ordered  ashore  to 
assist  in  burning  and  destroying  the  Navy  N'ard.  We 
took  the  Cuml)erland  in  tow  and  arri\-ed  back  at  Fortress 
Monroe  at  <',  A.  ^L ,  Sunday,  A]n-il  iM ,  \ery  tired  and 
hungry,  ha\-ing  been  without  food  for  eighteen  hours. 

I)uring    the     following    three    weeks    we    had     short 
rations,    hard    fare    and    hard    work.      Ma\'    f.  there    was   a 

SU 


terrible  tempest  and  <;'ale ;  no  slielter  for  the  men  of 
the  reserve  guard,  and  it  was  so  dark  that  the  sentries 
eould  not  walk  their  heat.  ]\la\'  -27  we  exehani^ed  onr 
ragged  elothing  for  a  light  flannel  uniform  furnished  by 
MassachUvSetts.  June  lU  the  eomjxmy  was  detailed  to  gar- 
rison Fort  Calhoun  —  on  the  Rip-Raps  —  in  Hampton 
Roads.  Under  the  direction  of  General  Butler  we  fired  the 
"Sawyer  Gun"  at  the  rebel  battery  at  Sewell's  Point. 
This  gun  carried  a  shot  se^•en  miles ;  it  afterwards  bur.st 
at  Newport  News.  \'a..  killing  and  wounding  several 
Union  soldiers  on  the  dav  of  the  Monitor  and  Merrimac 
tight.  julv  lt'>  the  company  was  ordered  to  Fortress  Mon- 
roe and  sailed  for  Bo.ston  on  the  Steamer  Cambridge.  Julv 
I'Jth,  we  arrived  in  Boston  Harbor  and  encamped  on  Long 
Island;  |ul\'  2il,  was  mustered  out.  julv  2:').  we  landed  in 
Boston  and  received  a  grand  welcome  from  the  citizens  of 
Boston,  and  after  the  parade,  we  were  dismissed  on  the  Com- 
mon. We  arrived  at  our  Armorv  at  .'>  p.  m.  the  same 
da\'.  The  citizens  all  turned  out  to  meet  us.  The  Armory 
was  decorated  in  iine  style.  The  young  folks  of  the  vil- 
lage gave  the  company  a  complimentary  Ball  in  the 
evening.  August  14,  U.  vS.  Paymaster  Usher  paid  the 
company  off  at  the  Armory  in  gold — Captain,  $421  .-Jti ;  1st 
Lieut.,  $;55r)..s!i;  2d  Lieut.,  $889. ns;  1st  Sergeant,  $78.42; 
2d  Sergeant,  Sc.s.cu   Corporal.  $r).^.r..") ;  Private,  S4i».(»2. 

The  many  millions  of  people  in  this  great  "Land  of 
the  Free  and  Home  of  the  Brave"  are  always  glad  to  re- 
member and  honor  oiir  soldiers  who  fought  and  suffered 
to  maintain  the  Union  weall  loxe.  At  the  same  time  they 
do  not  forget  tlie  widowed  mothers  who  ga\'e  their  sons, 
and  the  brax'e  wix'es  who  ga\-e  their  husbands  to  the  ser- 
\-ice  of  their  eountrw  In  the  heat  of  battle  tliere  comes 
to  the  soldier  a  spirit  of  daring  and  lie  becomes  almost 
reckless  in  hisad\"anee;  and  e\-en  wluMi  bax'onet  is  locked 
with  bayonet,  and  the  result  is  uncertain,  the  des]KM"ation 
of  his  efforts  diverts  his  mind  from  the  grim  issue,  and  he 
concjuers  or  falls,  almost  unconscious  of  the  danger.      Xot 

SI 


so  with  the  dear  ones  at  home — they  were  always  viewing" 
the  chanees ;  now  with  boiling  anxiety,  and  anon  with 
freezing  horror.  Let  ns  revere  the  great  army  of  brave 
hearts  who  suffered  at  home.  Some  of  them  are  still  with 
ns,  manv  have  passed  to  the  beyond,  and  we  ean  onlv 
honor  them  in  memory.  Among  the  last,  I  wish  to  name 
Irene  Isabel  Pavne  Peirce,  who,  after  the  repulse  at  Bit^ 
Bethel,  held  up  the  hands  of  her  faltering  husband,  and 
with  the  aid  of  two  of  his  former  Staff  Offieers,  did  far 
more  than  the  publie  ex'er  knew  to  reinstate  that  husband, 
and  to  complete  the  recruiting  of  the  'il'th  Mass.  Vols., 
which  later  performed  such  gallant  service  in  the  field. 
Such  mothers,  widows  and  wives  deserve  monuments  as 
grand  and  lasting  as  any  erected  in  memory  of  the  most 
gallant  soldier  who  fell  in  battle. 

Ai.F.Kkr  BARii.irn'  Asiii,k\-,  son  of  IUl)ridge  G.  and 
Henrietta  M.  (  Booth  )  Ashley,  was  born  in  Lakeville, 
September  s,    ls;),s,   and  was  educated    in    Lakeville    and 

Wareham  schools.  A 
sailor  and  mate  of  a 
merchant  ship  before 
the  rebellion,  he  en- 
listed in  the  U.  S. 
Navy  in  May,  lsr>l, 
and  served  on  the 
frigate  MissiSvSippi,  of 
which  Admiral  Dewev 
was  then  Lieut. -Com- 
mander. He  was  dis- 
charged in  func,  1^•'.L^ 
at  expiration  of  term 
of  enlistment.  He 
enlisted  in  Company 
A,  ;5d  Mass.  N'ols., 
in  August,  l^<'>l^  was 
1     a  c  credited    to   t  li  c 

CAPT.   ALBERT    B     ASHLEY.  (plota        ot  FrCetoWU. 

82 


and  served  through  the 
campaign  in  North  Car- 
olina. He  enlisted  in 
4th  Mass.  Cav..  Decem- 
ber -!  1 .  ls<i:'>,  and  served 
in  South  Carolina  and 
Florida,  taking  part  in 
the  battles  of  Gainsboro, 
Honev  Hill  and  Pocotal- 
igo.  He  was  promoted 
March  1 1\  Ist*.:.,  to  -Id 
Lieut..  iMst  Regt.,  U.  S. 
C.  T.,  was  on  garrison 
duty  in  Fort  Johnson, 
Jones  Island,  Fort  Wag- 
ner. Morris  Island,  and 
commanded  the  com- 
pany     on      picket     duty  lieut.  charles  g.  bosworth 

in  the  rear  of  Charleston.  He  was  promoted  to  Cap- 
tain in  ]^Iarch,  IstW;.  He  was  on  detached  service  as 
quartermaster  of  marine  transportation  at  Hilton  Head 
from  lulv.  isti,-)  until  April,  ls<w;,  then  mustered  out  and 
honorably  discharged.  Appointed  Light  Keeper  at  liay 
Point,  Port  Royal  Harbor,  in  ^lav,  isC)!;,  he  served  until 
April,  ls<i7.  He  was  on  the  Police  force  in  Taunton, 
Mass.,  during  the  remainder  of  ls'>7.  and  until  December, 
LS()it.  Appointed  bv  a  Boston  companv  as  general  mana- 
ger of  coal  mines  in  Indiana  and  Illinois,  in  I)cceml)er, 
lbt)9,  he  served  until  his  resignation  in  IMii';  then  he  be- 
came consulting  manager  of  same  mines  until  the  present 
time.  For  seventeen  years  he  has  l)ccn  connected  with 
the  lecture  board  of  the  Crand  Masonic  Lodge  of  Masons 
in  Illinois,  and  is  now  Crand  Lecturer.  Ik'  was  married 
at  Hilton  Head.  S.  C.  Oct.  ;;o.  ISCT)  to  jancttc  \V.  Miller 
of  Dedham,  Mass.  Children:  —  Jennie  \\'.,  born  Septem- 
ber 5.  IstW);    Albert  M.,  May  !•,   is?:;. 

CiiARLKS  G.  BoswDKiii.  son  of   William  vS    and  Myra 

W.   Bosworth,   was  born   in    Rchoboth,    Mass.,   September 

s;{ 


ll»,  1^;}(>;  educated  in  Rehoboth  schools  and  learned  the 
carpenter's  trade.  He  came  to  Freetown  in  1S50  and 
worked  at  his  trade  in  the  "  Furnace  "  district.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  East  Freetown  Light  Infantry,  lSr)2-5(), 
and  enli.sted  as  a  private  in  Company  F,  2i»th  Regt.,  Mass. 
Vols.,  November  Iti,  ls»;i.  He  was  appointed  a  corporal 
in  January,  1802,  and  promoted  to  sergeant  the  same  year ; 
he  was  commissioned  2d  lieutenant  March  22,  18G3,  and 
1st  lieutenant,  March  11>,  isc.-l-.  Lieut.  Bosworth  was 
with  the  29th  Regt.  in  all  its  campaigns  and  battles.  He 
was  shot  through  the  body  at  the  battle  of  "  The  Crater" 
julv  30,  1S(;4,  and  was  reported  "mortally  wounded," 
but  pulled  through,  mainly  by  force  of  will,  yet 
was  unable  to  perform  further  duty.  He  was  mus- 
tered j)Ut  as  disabled 
June  »'),  ist;,").  Since 
the  war  he  has  done 
light  work  as  a  car- 
penter. He  is  a  mem- 
be  r  of  Post  1  iH), 
G.  A.  R.,  of  Mass. 
Lieut.  Bosworth  mar- 
ried Rachel  Ashlev 
July  2:),  is:, 2.  Their 
children  : — Emily  W. , 
born  August  7,  1858; 
Elizabeth  A.,  Nov.  27, 
lS,-,(; ;  Elijah  A.,  Nov- 
ember .->,  isT).");  Frank 
A.,  Dec.  ;!l,  is:, 7,  and 
Rachel  I).,  November 
24,  ls7:,. 

LIEUT.  CHESTER    W     BRIGGS 

Chkstkr  Wood  Ukiccs,  son  of  Ca])t.  Franklin  and 
Sally  (Hathaway)  Briggs,  was  born  in  I'^reetown,  May, 
1S41.  He  received  his  education  in  the  town  schools  and 
at  ]\Iyricks  and  Peircc  Academies.      He  taught  school  sev- 

H4 


eral  years.  He  enlisted  in  Company  (V.  ;'.d  Re<^t.,  M.  V. 
M.,  in  ist'.d;  was  appointed  corporal  in  1m*.  1.  He  went 
forward  with  the  "  Minute  ^len  "  April  l.^.  l.s«il.  and 
served  three  months  as  corporal  at  Fortress  Mcmroe  and 
vicinity,  taking  part  in  the  destruction  of  the  Norfolk 
Xavy  Yard.  Mustered  out  on  Long-  Island.  Boston  Harbor. 
July  2-2,  1S(;1,  he  helped 
to  raise  the  'I^d  Unat- 
tached Co.,  ]Mass.  A'ols., 
and  was  commissioned  2d 
Lieutenant  of  the  com- 
panv.  ^Mustered  in  Aug- 
ust l.s.  lst>4,  he  served 
one  hundred  days. 

Lieut.  Briggs  taught 
school  again  after  the  war 
and  served  in  town  office. 
In  lsT4  he  went  to  Bos- 
ton and  engaged  in  the 
hide  and  leather  busi- 
ness, carrying  it  on  suc- 
cessfully until  is 'to, 
when  he  returned  to 
Assonet  in  poor  health. 
He  died  Julvol,   ls;»l.  capt.   j^mes  w     burr 

fAMKs  WASHiNtrroN  Btrk.  son  of  Captain  James  and 
Chartley  ( Chace )  Burr,  was  born  at  Assonet  X'illage, 
Freetown,  Mass.,  Januarx-  27.  islf..  He  l)ecame  a  mar- 
iner and  was  for  several  years  engaged  in  the  coasting 
trade.  Later  he  engaged  in  the  freighting  of  rough  rice, 
cotton  and  other  goods  1)etween  the  ports  of  Savannah. 
Darien.  or  F)runswick,  (la.,  and  Charleston.  S.  C.  l'^)r 
this  purpose  he  usually  sailed  frcun  Assonet.  in  ballast,  in 
September,  and  returned  in  May.  During  the  summer 
months  he  would  overhaul,  ])aint  and  put  his  schooner  in 
proper  condition  for  the  next  season's  work  in  the  south; 
and  if  conditions  were  favorable,  make  a  few  coaling  trips 

.S.J 


between   Philadelphia  or  Baltimore  and  some  New   Eng- 
land port. 

He  was  in  Charleston  harbor  with  his  vessel  during 
the  bombardment  of  Fort  Sumter  in  April,  l.sCil.  During 
the  Civil  War  he  became  a  pilot  in  the  U.  vS.  Navy,  and 
served  on  several  U.  S.  vessels  in  southern  waters.  After 
the  surrender  of  Charleston,  S.  C,  he  piloted  Admiral 
Dahlgren  to  Fort  vSumter  and  assisted  in  replacing  the 
"  Stars  and  vStripes  "  over  that  fort. 

The  Southern  carrying  trade  for  Assonet  vessels,  in 
which  se\'eral  were  engaged  at  the  time,  ended  with  the 
commencement  of  the  Civil  War.  After  the  war  Captain 
Burr  removed  to  Fall  River,  Mass.,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
meat  and  produce  business.  He  married  Phebe  Rathburn 
Phillips,  daughter  of  James  and  Phebe  (Porter)  Phillips, 

who  died  at  Fall 
River,  Mass.,  June  2s, 
181tl,  aged  72  years. 
They  had  two  sons, 
Job  Pierce  Burr,  who 
died  October  2r.,  Is44, 
aged  one  year  and 
seven  months ;  and 
F  r  a  n  k  Wa  s  h  i  n  g  t  o  n 
Burr,  who  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Fall  River, 
Mass.,  at  the  present 
time. 

Captain  Burr  died 
at  his  residence  on 
Oak  street.  Fall  River, 
Mass.,  August  ;>rd, 
]si»3. 

CAPT.    DARIUS    A     CUDWORTH 

Darhs  a.   Cudwokth,    son    of    Luther    and    Betsey 

{  Phillips)  Cudworth,  was  born  in  Freetown,  April  1,  ls3t), 

and  was  educated  in   the  public  schools  in  the   town.      In 

86 


185S  he  went  to   Missouri  to  engage  in  railroading.      At 
that  time  Missouri  was  a  slave  State,   and  society   not  con- 
genial to  Yankees.      Yet  there  was  an  element  of  union- 
ism even  there,  and  in  iSfli  the  nucleus  of  a  Union  regi- 
iment  was  formed   in    Linn  County,  where  Cud  worth    re- 
sided, and  which  he  joined.      Recruiting  was  slow  there, 
for  all  the  native  born  men  went  into  the  southern  army, 
but  the  regiment  was  finally  filled,   and  became  the  ISth 
Mo.  Vol.  Inf.,  in  March,  \Xi'r2,  and  ]\Ir.  Cudworth  was  mus- 
tered in  as  1st  lieutenant  and  regimental  quartermaster. 
The  regiment  went  vSouth  at  once  to  Island  No.  10,  in  the 
Mississippi,  and  thence  up  the  Tennessee  River,   and  was 
engaged  in  the  battles  of  Pittsburg  Landing  and  vShiloh, 
April  <>  and  7,  1S(;2,  losing  tWM)  men  and  officers  in  killed, 
wounded  and  missing.      Also  it  participated  in  the  cam- 
paign   and   capture    of    Corinth,    ^Sliss.      At    the  battle  of 
Corinth,    Oct.    ?>   and   4,    ls<>i>,    Lieut.    Cudworth   was    at- 
tached  to  the  StafT  of  Gen.   John   AlcArthur  as   Division 
Quarter    Master    and    Aide-de-Camp.       In    the    winter    of 
18()3-04  they  took  part  in  the  occupation  of  middle  Ten- 
nessee and  helped  to  rebuild  the  railroad  from   Nashville 
to  Decatur,  Ala.;  and  in  the  spring  of  istU  joined  vSher- 
man's  Army,  south  of  Chattanooga,   and  took  part  in  the 
battles   of  Reseca,    Dalton,    Kenesaw  Mountain  and  siege 
of    Atlanta.       On    July    ±2,    istU,    before    Atlanta,    Gen. 
Veach's  division,  to  which  Lieut.  Cudworth  was  attached, 
with   Gen.    Sweenv's   division,    under    Gen.    Granville    M. 
Dodge,  held  in  check  the  great  flanking  force  of  the  rebel. 
Gen.    Hood,    which    prevented   a    serious    disaster   to    the 
L^nion  forces ;  it  was  in  the  flanking  movement  that  routed 
the    Rebels    out    of  Atlanta,    and   in    the    engagement    at 
Jonesborough,    Ga.,    where    Hood's    army   was    again    de- 
feated.     He  went  with  Gen.  vSherman  on  the  ^vlarch  to  the 
Sea  and  through  the  Carolinas.     Thev  met  and  defeated 
Hardee's  army,  near  Beaufort,    N.   C,   the  last  of  March, 
lsii\r>.      This  was  the   last  battle   in   which   the    ISth    Mo. 
Vols,  were  engaged,  and  here  Lieut.  Cudworth  received  a 


commission  as  Captain  of  Company  K,  which  had  been 
issued  some  months  before.  His  term  of  service  having 
expired,  he  was  was  honorably  mustered  out  March  27, 
]8H5,  and  after  a  brief  visit  to  his  parents  at  the  c^ld  home 
he  returned  to  the  West  where  he  has  lived  ever  since. 
For  many  vears  he  has  been  successfully  engaged  in  the 
real  estate  business  in  St.  Paul,  Minn.  Capt.  Cudworth 
married  Cordelia  A.  Mills,  of  Brookfield,  Mo.,  vSeptember 
27,  18G9.  Their  children; — Donna  Mills,  born  October 
2»),  1.S70;  Frank  Barrows,  July  4,  1872;  Adda  Blossom, 
Dec.  5,  ls7;i;  Luther  Phillips.  July  11,  ls7<l;  James  Wal- 
ter, May  27,ls7s;  Roger  Logan,  Dec.  27,  Pssi;. 

John  Miliox  Deank,  son  of  John  and  Lydia 
(Andros)  Deane,  was  born  at  Assonet  Village,  Freetown, 
]Mass.,  Januarv  s,  is-l-o.  Llis  grandfather,  Thomas  Andros, 
was  a  soldier  of  the  American  Revolution.  His  education 
was  obtained  from   the  Water  Street   District  vSchool,  the 

Assonet  Academy,  the 
Myricksville  Academy, 
and  the  Foxboro  English 
and  Classical  School.  At 
the  age  of  19,  he  began 
teaching  school  at  Berk- 
ley Common,  and  later 
taught  for  several  terms 
at  the  vSouth  District  of 
Assonet  Village,  being 
engaged  there  at  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war 
of  the  rebellion. 

He  had  enlisted  in 
the  Assonet  Light  Infan- 
try, Co.  G,  ;5d  Regt.. 
Mass.  Vol.  ]Militia,  in 
vSeptember,  ls5,s,  was 
appointed  Sergeant  and 
Company  Clerk  in  Aug- 


LIEUT,    JOHN     M.    DEANE, 
At   Pans,   Ky  ,  1863, 


■■■^ 

^E 

\      JE 

H^iln 

^^^^^^^^^^^^K3 

1  HI  ^^^^^^^H 

I^^H 

MAJOR    JOHN     M     DEANE. 


list,  IsOo,  and  was 
elected  Third  Lieut- 
enant in  vSeptember, 
1860,  at  the  annual 
muster  of  the  regi- 
ment at  Wareham, 
Alass. 

Leaving-  his  school 
he  responded  to  Pres- 
ident Lincoln's  call  for 
troops  April  15,  1861, 
and  served  three 
months  at  Fortress 
]\lonroe,  Va.,  as  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant  of  his 
com  pan  V.  He  took 
part  in  the  destruction 
of  the   Norfolk  Navy 

Major  29th  Regiment,  Mass. Veteran  Volunteer  Infantry,  1865.   Yard     OU     tllC     ulght     Of 
DepartmentCommander,   1897,  Deptof  Mass, CAR.         A,-,vi'l       OO         IVAI  nn  r\ 

was  for  a  few  weeks  in  command  of  the  guard  kept  at  Fort 
Calhoun — the  Rip  Raps — in  Hampton  Roads.  He  was 
mustered  out  with  his  regiment  at  Boston,  Mass.,  July  '2'2, 
1861,  and  again  took  up  teaching  at  the  South  school. 

He  was  appointed  by  Governor  John  A.  Andrew  a 
Second  Lieutenant  in  the  "il^th  Regt.,  ;Mass.  Vols.  June  1, 
1  st')2  ;  was  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  December  21>.  186-2  ; 
to  Adjutant  of  the  regiment  November  1,  1S{\:] ;  to  Captain 
June  8,  1864  and  to  Major  May  15,  1865. 

He  served  as  Acting  Assistant  Adjutant  (jcneral  at  the 
]Slilitarv  Post  of  Paris,  Ky.,  from  April  to  vSeptember, 
lSi^'A,  and  was  on  detached  service  at  the  Draft  Rendez- 
vous, Boston  Harbor,  frcmi  September,  ls6;5  until  May, 
18<i4.  In  januarv  18<»4,  he  took  a  large  detachment  of  re- 
cruits to  the  54th  and  55th  Mass.  Regiments — colored^ 
then  encamped  on  2\Iorris  Island,  vSouth  Carolina. 


89 


He  served  on  the  staff  of  ^Major  General  ().  B.  Wil- 
eox  from  April  until  his  nitister  out  in  Augtist,  ISC.;), 
being  appointed  Prevost  ^Marshal  of  the  First  Division, 
9th  Army  Corps  April  l^^  isc.;.,  Prevost  Marshal  of 
Gecn'getown,  I).  C,  May  '2iK  1S('.,"»  and  Prevost  Marshal  and 
Pass  Offieer.  District  of  Washington,  July  11.  isC..-). 

In  accordance  with  the  following  communication  he 
was  commissioned  Major  of  U.  S.  Volunteers,  by  brevet, 
to  date  March  2.-),   ISC.:.. 

War  Department,  Washington,  | 
June  15,  1865.  \ 

Sir: — You  are  hereby  informed  that  the  President  of  the 
United  States  has  appointed  you  for  gallant  and  meritorious 
service  in  the  attack  on  Fort  Steadman,  Va. ,  a  Major  of  Vol- 
unteers, by  brevet,  in  the  service  of  the  United  States,  to  rank 
as  such  from  the  twenty-fifth  day  of  March,  one  thousand, 
eight  hundred  and  sixty-five.  Should  the  Senate  at  their  next 
session,  advise  and  consent  thereto,  you  will  be  commissioned 
accordingly.  Immediately  on  receipt  hereof  please  communi- 
cate to  this  department,  through  the  Adjutant  General  of  the 
Army,  your  acceptance  or  non-acceptance,  and  with  your  letter 
of  acceptance,  return  the  oath,  herewith  enclosed,  properly 
filled  up,  subscribed  and  attested,  and  report  your  age,  birth- 
place and  the  State  of  which  you  were  a  permanent  resident. 

Edwin   M.   Stanton, 
Brevet  Major  John   M.  Deane,  Secretary  of  War. 

U.  S.  Volunteers. 

Captain  Deane's  gallantry  in  action  at  Fort  Steadman, 
Va.,  was  reported  to  Major  General  John  G.  Parke,  com- 
manding the  !»th  Army  Corps,  by  the  Inspectors'  Depart- 
ment of  1st  Division  of  that  Corps,  (jeneral  Parke  in  a  com- 
mtmication  to  the  War  Department,  dated  May  29,  ISfi."), 
recommended  that  Capt.  Deane  be  made  a  Major  of  U.  S. 
Vohmteers,  by  brevet,  for  gallantry  in  action.  The  rec- 
ommendation of  General  Parke  was  approved  and  for- 
warded to  the  War  Department  by  Major  General  (reorge 
G.  Meade,  commanding  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  June 
1,  1^65,  whence  the  appointment  was  made  June  IT),  ISOo. 


In  accordance  with  the  following-  communication  he 
was  awarded  the  Congressional  ]^Iedal  of  Honor:  — 

Record  and   Pension   Office,  War  Department,  j 
Washington  City,  March  ^sth,   1895.  )' 

Major  John  M.   Deane, 

Late  2'.ith  Massachusetts  Volunteers, 
Fall  River,  Massachusetts. 

Sir: — I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you  that  by  direction 
of  the  President,  and  in  accordance  with  the  Act  of  Congress 
approved  March  '6,  I860,  providing  for  the  presentation  of 
Medals  of  Honor  to  such  officers,  non-commissioned  officers  and 
privates  as  have  most  distinguished  themselves  in  action,  the 
Assistant  Secretary  of  War  has  awarded  you  a  Medal  of  Honor 
"For  most  distinguished  gallantr}'  in  action  at  Fort  Steadman, 
Virginia,  March  25,  1865,  in  serving  with  other  volunteers,  a 
previously  silenced  and  abandoned  gun,  mounted  en  barbette, 
at  Fort  Haskell,  being  exposed  to  a  galling  fire  from  the 
enemy's  sharpshooters."  The  medal  has  been  forwarded  to 
you  today  by  registered  mail.  Upon  receipt  of  it  please  advise 
this  office  thereof. 

Very  respectfully, 

W.  F.  AixswoKTH,  Col.  U.  S.  Army, 
Chief  Record  and  Pension  Office. 

Adjutant  General  William  Schouler  of  ^lassachusetts, 
in  his  report  for  the  year  I'^fJo,  pages  io-i  and  4<>5,  con- 
cerning the  battle  of  Fort  Steadman,  Va.,  says:  "Among 
the  other  officers  honorably  mentioned  for  good  conduct 
on  this  occasion  were  Captains  Clarke,  Browne,  Deane, 
Pizer  and  Lieutenants  Joslyn,  ]McOuillan  and  Scully." 
"Captain  Deane,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  fight,  showed 
great  gallantry  at  Fort  Haskell." 

Colonel  Gilbert  P.  Robinson,  ord  ^larvland  Infantry, 
commanding  ;:»rd  Brigade,  1st  Division,  l»th  Army  Corps, 
in  his  report  of  the  battle  of  Fort  vSteadman,  Va.,  to 
Division  Headquarters  —  vSerial  No.  !•.■),  War  of  the  Rebel- 
lion   Official     Records    of     the     L^nion     and     Confederate 

91 


Armies,  pages  334  and  335 — says:  "I  have  the  honor  to 
mention  the  following-  officers  and  enlisted  men  for  praise, 
for  deeds  set  against  their  names,  and  to  reiterate  the  enlo- 
giums  of  their  regimental  commanders. 

Twenty-Ninth  Alassachnsetts  Veteran  Volunteers:  — 
Captain  John  M.  Deane,  commanding  the  regiment 
after  the  capture  of  Major  Richardson,  and  Lieutenant 
Henry  C.  Joslyn  captured  while  on  picket  and  escaped 
through  the  ranks  of  the  enemy  in  an  audaci<uis  dash,  ex- 
posed to  every  danger;  worked  a  gun  in  Fort  Haskell 
during  the  latter  part  of  the  engagement,  only  leaving  it 
to  charge  back  to  Battery  No.  11;  vSergeant  William  H. 
Howe,  Company  K.  and  Private  Levi  B.  Gaylord,  Com- 
pany A.  for  working  barbette  guns  in  Fort  Haskell  side 
by  side  with  Captain  Deane  and  Lieutenant  Joslyn,  after 
all  but  two  of  the  artillery  detachment  had  been  killed  or 
wounded." 

In  the  battle  of  Fort  Steadman,  Va.,  before  daylight. 
Captain  Deane  captured  and  disarmed  a  captain  of  the  4th 
North  Carolina  regiment;  and  later  in  the  day,  in  the 
charge  back  from  Fort  Haskell  to  Battery  No.  11,  he  cap- 
tured and  disarmed  the  major  of  the  4th  Georgia  regiment. 
The  latter  also  had  in  his  possession  and  delivered  to  Cap- 
tain Deane  a  carpet  bag,  containing  clothing  and  other 
articles  belonging  to  Captain  ( xcorge  I).  Williams  of  the 
29th  Mass.  regiment,  which  he  had  taken  from  Captain 
Williams'  quarters. 

Major  Deane  has  the  revolvers  and  belts  of  both  the 
above  mentioned  Confederate  officers  in  his  possession  at 
the  present  time.      Neither  of  them  carried  a  sword. 

His  military  service,  covering  nearly  forty-two  months, 
was  both  variable  and  honorable.  It  consisted  of  life  in 
garrison,  camp  and  field,  and  on  the  transport;  of  dutv  on 
the  campaign  and  in  the  seige ;  of  service  as  a  line,  staff 
and  field  officer.  He  commanded  his  regiment  in  the  field 
from  March  until  June,   is ('.5. 


His  service  took  him  into  thirteen  different  States,  and 
required  thousands  of  miles  of  travel.  He  served  and 
fought  in  the  Second,  Fifth  and  Ninth  Army  Corps;  with 
the  Armv  of  the  Potomac  and  with  the  Army  of  the  Ohio. 
He  served  under  Grant,  ^SlcClellan,  Burnside,  Hooker  and 
Meade  as  Commanding  Generals ;  and  under  Sumner, 
Hancock,  Burnside,  Sedgwick,  Wm.  F.  Smith,  Warren, 
Wilcox  and  Parke  as  Corps  Commanders. 


RESIDENCE    OF    JOHN     M     DEANE,    WATER    ST. 
Erected    I896-7.      Front   View. 

His  discharge  paper  gives  him  the  credit  of  having 
been  engaged  in  twenty  battles.  For  more  than  nine 
months  in  the  seige  of  Petersburg  he  was  constantly  un- 
der the  fire  of  the  enemy's  artillery,  and  most  of  the  time 
within  range  of  their  mortar  batteries  and  musketry. 

From  November,  ls<l-l-  until  the  evacuation  of  Peters- 
burg bv  the  enemy  in  April,  1n<>.">,  he  was  in  the  trenches 
near  Fort  Steadman,  the  nearest  point  to,  and  within  easy 

m 


speaking-  distance  of  the  enemy's  main  line  of  works, 
where  artillery  duels  and  mortar  practice  were  daily  and 
nighth'  indulged  in,  and  where  sharpshooting'^and  picket 
firing  was  a  pastime. 

He  was  never  obliged  to  quit  the  field  on  account  of 
sickness,  and  was  never  wounded,  although  twice  hit  by 
fragments  of  shells  and  twice  by  bullets. 

After  his  muster  out  and  final  discharge  from  the 
army  in  August,  istiT),  he  resumed  teaching  in  the  south 
district.      In    ]\Iav,    isci;,    in  connection    with    ^Ir.    i\lon/.o 


RESIDENCE    OF    JOHN     M.    DEANE        EAST    VIEW. 

Hathaway  of  Freetown,  he  engaged  in  a  general  merchan- 
dise business  in  Fall  River,  under  the  firm  name  of  Hatha- 
wa\'  &  Deane.  !Mr.?latha\vav  retired  from  the  firm  in  March 
l>i7"2,  since  which  time  the  business  has  been  conducted 
by  Mr.  Deane.  He  has  always  divided  his  time  between 
Fall  River  and  his  native  village  of  Assonet,  to  which  he 
is  very  much  attached. 

November   id,    isC)*;,    he    was  married  to  Mary  (rray 
Pearce,  a  grand-daughter  of  Freetown,  born  at  Norwich, 

'.'4 


Connecticut,  November  '2C),  IS-tO,  and  at  the  time  a  resi- 
dent of  Assonet  Village.  Their  children  are  Milton  Irv- 
ing, born  April  8(>,  18r)S  —  served  as  Gunners'  Mate  Avith  a 
detachment  of  Company  F,  ^lassachusetts  Naval  Brigade, 
of  Fall  River,  on  the  U.  S.  ^lonitor  Lehio^h  durinof  the 
Spanish-American  War;  Richard  Bovnton,  julv  12,  1869; 
Charles  Learned,  August  25,  isTl  ;  Anna  Louise  Andros, 
July  28,    1877;  and  Wallis  Pearce,  May  2,  18sl. 

He  joined  Richard  Borden    Post  No.  4<'),    Department 
of  Massachusetts,  (xrand  Armv   of  the    Republic,    of  Fall 


RESIDENCE    OF    JOHN     M     DEANE.       WEST    VIEW. 

River,  ]\Iass.,  in  1885.  and  has  served  his  Post  live  years 
as  its  Commander.  He  was  a  National  Aide  de  Camp  in 
ISDO;  A.'^sistant  National  Lispector  in  isi.H;  Department 
Aid  de  Camp  in  isss,  lsi»4  and  1!Mm»;  member  of  the  De- 
partment Council  of  Administration  in  lssl»;  Chief  Clus- 
tering Officer  of  the  Department  in  IMM);  Assistant  Quar- 
termaster General  of  the  Department  in  1892;  Junior  Vice 
Department  Commander  in  ISO.");  .Senior  Vice  Department 

Commander  in  1800,  and  Department  Commander  in  1S97. 

95 


Mary  (tRAY  Deane,  daughter  of  Abner  Tompkins  and 
Sarah  Read  (Briggs)  Pearce,  was  born  at  Norwich,  Conn., 

November  'iO,  184*;. 
In  ls53,  she  re- 
moved to  Providence, 
R.  I.,  and  in  1865  to 
Assonet  Village,  Free- 
town, Mass. ,  where  she 
was  married  to  Major 
John  M.  Deane,  Nov- 
ember "2(1,  1866. 

She  was  educated 
at  the  city  schools  of 
Providence,  R.  I.,  and 
at  the  Ipswich  Female 
Seminary,  Ipswich, 
Mass. 

After  her  marriage 
she  removed  with  her 
husband  to  Fall  River, 
j\Iass.,  where  she   be- 
came interested  in  church  and  benevolent  work. 

She  is  a  charter  member  of  Richard  Borden  Woman's 
Relief  Corps  No.  Km;,  of  Fall  River,  organized  in  May 
isss,  and  served  that  Corps  the  first  four  years  of  its 
existence  as  its  President,  since  which  time  she  has  been 
its  Treasurer.  In  ]s\\n  she  served  as  National  and  Depart- 
ment x-\ide  ;  in  1M»I  as  Department  Inspector;  and  in  1892 
as  President  of  the  Department  of  Massachusetts  Woman's 
Relief  Corps.  In  iM'oshe  served  as  Department  Coun- 
sellor; in  lsi»-t  as  vSpecial  Department  Aide;  in  l8!Kr  as 
Assistant  National  Inspector;  in  1897  as  Chairman  of  the 
National  Executive  Board,  W.  R.  C.  ;  in  ls!»s  as  Depart- 
ment Patriotic  Instructor;  in  1  s!>0  as  National  Inspector, 
and  in  llMt2  she  is  again  serving  as  Special  Department 
Aide.  She  is  a  member  of  yuequechan  Chapter,  Daugh- 
ters of  the  American  Revolution. 

96 


MARY   GRAY    DEANE. 
President  of  Dept    of  Mass  ,  Woman's  Relief  Corps, 


HuMFiiREY  A.  pRAXfis  was  born  in  Fall  River,  ^Slass., 
Aiio-nst    H,     1S34-,    and    educated    in     the     public    schools 


Assonet      in     Xoveniber, 
edee     tool     makers"  trade 


of  that  city.  He  went  to 
1851,  and  there  learned  the 
of  |(^hn  Crane  at  the 
"Old  Forge."  Decem- 
ber, 1S.")4,  he  enlisted  in 
Company  G,  od  Regt.. 
2d  Brig.,  1st  Div.,  M. 
V.  M.  He  was  appointed 
Corporal  in  ls5o;  First 
Sergeant  and  Compan\- 
Clerk  February  4,  is^t'.: 
vSecond  Lieutenant,  vSep- 
tember  T),  ls60.  He  en- 
tered the  U.  vS.  service  as 
First  Lieutenant,  April 
1.-),  1st'.  1,  served  at  For- 
tress ^lunroe,  Yn.,  anil 
was  h  o  n  o  r  a  b  1  V  d  i  s  - 
charged  at  the  end  of 
his  term  of  service,  Jul)- 
■2-2.   isc.l. 

He  was  employed  at  the  rifle  factorv  in  Assonet, 
lS(i2-77,  and  removed  to  Taunton  June  1<»,  isTT,  where 
he  was  employed  at  the  A.  Field  &  vSons'  Tack  Works  for 
i25  years.  At  present  he  is  employed  by  the  Atlas  Tack 
Works,  Fairhaven,  Mass.,  as  foreman  of  the  blacksmith 
department.  He  held  the  office  of  Town  Clerk  for  several 
years  in  Freetown,  also  other  prominent  positions. 

He  is  a  member  of  Po.st  o,  G.  A.  R.  of  Taunton,  Mass., 
and  is  a  Royal  iVrch  ]Mason. 

He  married  vSybil  A.  Thresher  of  Assonet,  October  21, 
1856.  Their  children:  —  Ralph  H..  born  April  1!>,  1S58; 
Wayland  L.,  February  li),  Istjo. 

Charles  Russell  Haskins.  son  of  Russell  and  ]SIercy 
(  Hathaway  )  Haskins  was  born  in  Freetown  July  25,  IMo. 

97 


LIUET.    HUMPHREY    A     FRANCIS. 


He  had  few  advantages  in  early  life,  except  the  good  pub- 
lic schools  of  Freetown.  He  became  a  railroad  employe 
soon  after  his  schooldays  were  over.  In  February,  1857, 
he  joined  Company  G,  8d  Regt.,  M.  V.  M.  On  April  15- 
1.S61,  he  responded  to  the  "Minute  Men's"  call,  going 
with  his  company  to  Fortress  Munroe  and  taking  part  in 
the  destruction  of  the  Norfolk  Navy  Yard,  April  20,  1861. 
May  23,  1801,  General  Butler,  commanding  at  Fortress 
Monroe,  sent  a  body  of  Union  troops  across  Black  River, 
and  occupied  Hampton,  Va.  Several  of  Company  G  men, 
with  others,  were  detailed  for  guard  duty  at  the  Hampton 
end  of  the  bridge,  one  of  them  being  Charles  R.  Haskins. 
During  the  night  he  heard  a  noise  in  some  shrubbery  near 
his  post,  and  saw  an  object  crawling  towards  him.  He 
challenged,  but  received  no  reply.  He  challenged  again 
and  cocked  his  musket.  At  the  click  of  the  lock  three  ne- 
groes sprang  up  and  separated,  and  one  cried  out,  "(jood 
God!  Massa,  he  cock  'em  I  Don't  shoot,  don't  shoot  I  " 
Ha.skins  ordered  them  to  halt,  and  told  them  if  they  moved 
an  inch  he  would  let  daylight  through  them,  and  then 
called  the  Corporal  of  the  Guard,  David  B.  Hill,  of  Com- 
pany G,  and  he  in  turn  called  the  Lieutenant  of  the 
Guard,  Cephas  Washburn,  jr.,  of  Company  A,  and  both 
were  soon  at  Haskins'  post  and  found  the  three  trembling 
slaves,  who  stood  uncovered  and  offered  profuse  apologies 
for  the  manner  of  their  approach  and  begged  piteously  to 
be  taken  inside  the  Yankee  lines,  "for  old  massa"  would 
send  them  to  New  Orleans  if  he  got  them  again.  On 
being  asked  why  they  separated  when  they  sprang  from 
the  ground,  they  replied:  "So  that  massa  hit  but  one  if  he 
shoot."  Evidently  they  had  carefully  planned  to  escape 
from  slavery  and  were  quite  well  posted  in  regard  to  the 
trouble  between  the  North  and  South.  They  were  taken 
to  the  guard  house  and  kept  until  morning  when  Haskins 
escorted  them  to  General  Butler's  headquarters.  Butler 
coinplimented  Haskins  and  presented  him  with  a  photo- 
graph of  himself,  after  putting  his  autograph  on  it.     Soon 

98 


after  the  owner  of  the  three  slaves  appeared  at  headquar. 
ters  and  with  g-reat  assuranee  demanded  the  immediate 
return  of  his  property.  While  the  Virginia  slaveh<3lder 
with  great  dignity,  was  talking  about  his  eonstitutional 
rights,  General  Butler  was  adroitly  asking  questions. 
"  Have  these  slaves  helped  to  dig  the  entrenchments  over 
in  Hampton  ?"  asked  General  Butler.  "  Thev  have,  "' 
replied  the  Virginian.  "Then  I  declare  them  to  be  con- 
traband of  war  and  I  decline  to  give  them  up."  They 
Avere  at  once  set  to  work  building  an  oven  inside  the  fort- 
ress. Thus  originated  the  name  of  "contraband,"  as  ap- 
plied to  slaves.  Later  Charles  R.  Haskins  served  with 
distinction  as  a  vSergeant  in  Company  H,  4(ith  Regt., 
Mass.  Vols,  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

After  the  war  he  had  a  long  career  as  a  prominent 
railroad  ofticial.  He  was  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  and 
a  Knight  Templar.  He  died  in  llHM)  and  was  buried  with 
Military  aud  Masonic  honors  in  Assonet  cemetery. 


LIEUT     URIAL     M     HASKINS. 


Urial  ]SI.  Haskixs, 
son  of  Cyrus  and  Susan 
Haskins,  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  April  I'.i, 
ls4?,.  While  a  child 
his  parents  moved  back 
to  Berkley,  Mass.,  his 
father's  native  town, 
and  later  thev  moved 
to  Freetown,  where 
Urial  learned  the  tack 
maker's  trade  at  the 
"  ( )ld  Forge."  He  en- 
listed in  Company  G, 
;3rd  Regt.,  M.  V.  M.  in 
1S5S.  He  was  appoint- 
ed Corporal  in  18()<». 
He  responded  to   Lin- 


99 


coin's  call  April  IT), 
18()1,  and  gave  up  his 
Corporal's  warrant  to 
have  a  comrade  go 
who  would  not  do  so 
as  a  private.  He  par- 
ticipated in  all  the 
events  with  his  com- 
pany at  Fortress  Mon- 
roe, during  its  three 
month's  service.  He 
enlisted  in  Company 
A,  3rd  Mass,  Vols., 
September  23,  1S(;2, 
and  served  as  a  Cor- 
poral in  that  com- 
pany through  the 
campaign  in  North 
Carolina.  He  assist- 
ed in  recruiting  the  •I'ld  Companv,  Unat.  Mass  Vols.  Aug- 
ust, 1S()4,  and  was  commissioned  First  Lieutenant  of  that 
company.  Detailed  Acting  Assistant  Adjutant  (xcneral 
at  Readville  for  a  few  weeks,  he  afterwards  was  appointed 
Adjutant  of  the  Battallion  stationed  there  and  served  as 
such  during  the  remainder  of  his  service.  After  the  war 
Lieut.  Haskins  again  took  up  tack  making,  working  in  Vir- 
ginia and  other  States,  but  for  the  last  twenty-five  years 
has  lived  and  worked  at  his  trade  in  Taunton,  Mass.  He 
has  been  in  the  City  Government  as  Coucilman,  and  is  a 
member  of  Post  3,  G.  A.  R.  He  married  P^thalana  F. 
Briggs  in  LsTL  Their  children  : — Susie  E.,  born  Janu- 
ary 1,  LST2;  Eva  M.,  August  3,  LS74;  Gertie  L.,  July  1, 
1877;   Ada  A.,  January  24,  l.s7'.t. 

Ei.r.RiixiK  Lawiox.  son  of  fob  (t.  and  Polly  (Strange) 
Lawton,  was  born  in  Freetown  in  August,  ls2<'».  He  had 
the  distinction  of  being  in  the  Ignited  States  service  longer 
than   any  other   Freetown   man.       He   entered   the   U.    S. 


ELBRIDGE    LAW  ION 

Chief    Engineer,   U     S     N 


Navy  as  od  Assl.  Engineer,  in  Mareh,  ls48;  served  on 
the  coast  of  ]\Iexico  in  tlie  "  Waterwitch  ;"  was  made  :2d 
Asst.  Engineer  in  September,  1849;  promoted  to  1st  Asst. 
Engineer  in  February,  ls,51,  and  became  Chief  Engineer 
in  1N5<).  He  was  on  duty  at  dilTerent  times  on  Coast 
Survev  vSteamers  Bibb,  Saranac  and  John  Hancock ;  Behr- 
ing  Straits  Surveying  Expedition. 

In  18G-2-f)o,  on  the  "Roanoke,"'  "Colorado,"  "Minne- 
sota" and  "^Mississippi"  he  was  Fleet  Engineer  of  Admi- 
ral Farragnt's  Squadron,  and  at  the  capture  of  New  Or- 
leans. He  had  charge  of  the  building  of  the  machinery 
of  the  "Madawaska,"  1865-66,  and  was  on  special  duty  at 
Bridgewater,  ^Mass,,  1.S67-69.  Chief  Engineer  at  Boston 
Navv  Yard  1S69-71  ;  Chief  Engineer  at  Mare  Island  Navy 
Yard,  ls7l-76;  Chief  Engineer  at  New  York  Navy  Yard, 
1877-8(t.  He  was  ordered  to  Anapolis  as  one  of  the  Board 
of  Yisitors  in  l8so,  but  was  too  feeble  to  go.  In  the 
Spring  of  isyl  he  was  retired  for  disability  inctirred  in 
line  of  duty.  He  married  ^latilda  Durham,  Baltimore, 
]Sld.,  in  \s'>-2.  Died  in  Boston,  July,  iss!),  leaving  a  wid- 
ow, daughter  and  son.  He  was  fearless  and  uncomprom- 
ising in  the  discharge  of  his  duty ;  loved  and  respected  by 
his  fellow  officers  and  those  under  his  authority.  His 
memory  is  a  legacy  and  inspiration. 

Andrew  Lawtux,  son  of  Job  G.  and  Polly  (  vStrange) 
Lawton,  was  born  in  Freetown,  April  6,  isi?,").  He  en- 
tered the  U.  S.  Navy  as  :\d  Assistant  Engineer,  June  24, 
1850.  Was  on  duty  in  the  Coast  Survey  1850-51,  and  on 
the  vSteamer  "AVaterwitch"  in  the  Home  Squadron.  He 
was  promoted  to  2d  Asst.  Engineer  Feb.  26,  1851.  In 
l,s;)2-5o  he  was  attached  to  the  Frigate  "Saranac."  On 
^lav  21,  1S5:>,  he  was  promoted  to  1st  Asst.  Engineer.  In 
1> 54-55  he  was  on  the  Frigate  "San  Jacinto,"  engaged  in 
Coast  vSurvey.  During  1  856-58  he  was  in  the  East  Indian 
Squadron,  and  was  on  special  duty  in  Boston  in  1859-60. 

His  commission  as  Chief  Engineer  was  dated  April 
2:-),  1859,    In  1S60-61  he  was  attached  to  Steamship  "Hart- 

101 


ford,"  in  the  West  Gulf  Squadron.  He  was  on  special 
duty  at  Taunton,  Mass.,  in  iSHii,  and  in  IsH:-",-*;,!  was  on 
special  duty  at  Boston  Navy  Yard,  and  at  Wilmington, 
Delaware. 

Chief  Eno'ineer  of  the  "  Hartford,"  the  Flagship  of 
the  Asiatic  Squadron  in  18«i()-()8:  in  1S61>,  he  was  ordered, 
as  Chief  Engineer,  to  the  Philadelphia  Navy  Yard,  and 
died  while  on  dutv  there.  March  17,  isTl. 

John  W.  Marhle,  son  of  John  H.  and  Mary  (Teal) 
Marble,  was  born  in  Somerset,  Mass.,  March  1,  1826.  He 
was  educated  in  Somerset  schools,  and  learned  a  ship  car- 
penter's and  joiner's  trade.  He  came  to  Freetown  in  1  N4-7 
to  work  as  a  ship  carpenter  and  settled  here  permanently, 
taking  up  a  contractor  and  builder's  business.  He  joined 
Company  (t,  3rd  Regt.  M.  Y.  M.  at  its  inception,  and  was 
elected  3d  Lieut.  June  '2U,  is,")*);  1st  Lieut.  June  14,  \sr>l  ; 
Captain     April    •-!'.»,     lNr)4.      He    resigned    in    April    l8o5; 

re-enlisted  as  private 
May  s,  1855,  and  was 
appointed  1st  Sergt. 
He  resigned  May  "2(1, 
1N57,  and  took  his 
place  in  the  ranks : 
was  appointed  1st 
Sergt.  Jan.  2-I-,  ls51»; 
elected  2d  Lieut.  July 
2,  1S51>  and  Captain 
JuJy  21,  18(;().  He 
commanded  the  com- 
pany in  the  "Minute 
Men's"  service  at 
Fortress  Monroe  in 
1  stl  1 ,  being  mustered 
out  July  22,  ls(;i,  at 
Long  Lsland,  Boston 
Harbor.        He       w:  s 


CAPT     JOHN    W     MARBLE 


102 


GEN     EBENEZER    W.    PIERCE, 


elected  captain  of 
Company  A,  3d  Mass. 
Vols,  and  mustered  in 
Sept.  23,  1SH2.  He 
served  throughout  the 
North  Carolina  cam- 
paign, being  a  part  of 
the  time  commander 
of  detached  troops  at 
Gaines  ]Mill  and  at 
Deep  Gully.  He  was 
mustered  out  June  2  6 
1S63,  at  Camp  "Joe 
Hooker"  in  Lakeville, 
Mass.  Captain  Mar- 
ble was  the  leader  in 
raising  the  22nd  Unat- 
tached Compan}', 
Mass.  Vols.,  and  was 
commissioned  Captain  and  mustered  in  Aug.  IS,  iStH.  He 
served  with  that  Company  in  the  100  days'  campaign. 
After  the  war  he  again  took  up  the  business  of  carpenter 
and  builder.  He  built  Anthony  &  Swift's  Abattoir  and 
ice  hou.ses  at  the  Forofe  in  Freetown  in  1S71,  and  for  more 
than  twenty  years  was  superintendent  of  that  business. 
Captain  Marble  was  always  prominent  in  all  public  mat- 
ters in  town,  being  a  power  in  politics,  and  in  ISSI  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  Legislature  from 
the  (*>th  District  of  Bristol  County.  He  married  Hannah 
J.  De^loranville  July  4,  Is-l^s.  Their  children — Betsey  P., 
born  Aug.  23,  issi;  Mary  T.,  Oct.  27,  1855;  John  W., 
:\Iarch  3,  ls5S;  Henry  W.,  Feb.  15,  isiKi.  Capt.  :\larble 
died  June  IS,  luoo. 

Ehexi:zer  W.  Pierce,  son  of  Ebenezer  and  Joanna 
(^Weaver)  Pierce,  was  born  April  lo,  1822,  and  was  edu- 
cated in  Freetown  schools  and  Andover  Academy.  He 
inherited  a  fine  property,  largely  real  estate,  and  engaged 

103 


in  sheep  raising.  He  enlisted  in  the  4th  Artillery,  M.  V. 
M.  in  1843.  He  was  eleeted  Major  of  the  same  Aug.  31, 
1844,  and  Lieut. -Colonel  Sept.  o.  ls4»').  He  enlisted  in 
Company  C^,  3d  Regt.  M.  V.  M.  June  s,  1850,  He 
became  Captain  of  same  June  -UK  1S5<»;  Major  of  3d  Regt. 
Aug.  3,  1851  ;  Lieut. -Col.  April  '2,  \Sr>-2.  He  was  commis- 
sioned Brig. -General  -Id  Brigade,  1st  Div.  M.  V.  M.  Nov. 
Y,  1855.  He  responded  to  Lincoln's  call  April  15,  ISIH 
and    served    three    months.      He    commanded    the    Union 


RESIDENCE    OF    GEN      EBENEZER     W     PEIRCE. 

troops  at  the  battle  of  Big  Bethel  Va. — the  first  battle  of 
the  war — June  10,  Isdl.  He  was  commissioned  Colonel 
of  the  29th  Regt.  Mass.  Vols.  Dec.  13,  18»;i.and  stationed 
at  Newport  News,  Va.  In  May  1S(12  Col.  Pierce  with  his 
regiment  took  part  in  the  expedition  to  Norfolk  and  Suf- 
folk, Va.  He  joined  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  in  June, 
186'2  at  White  House  Landing  and  was  attached  to 
Meagher's    Irish    Brigade,    Richardson's     Div.,    Sumner's 

104 


Corps.  June  ;^>(»,  lsr)L>.  in  the  seven  days  retreat  across  the 
Peninsular,  while  resting  at  Nelson's  Farm  near  White 
Oak  Swamp,  the  enemy  suddenly  opened  upon  the  Divis- 
ion with  artillery.  vSeveral  hundred  mules  that  had  been 
unhitched  from  the  supply  train,  to  water,  stampeded  and 
threw  the  troops  into  confusion.  Before  order  was  restored 
several  of  the  2ihh  Regiment  were  killed  and  wounded, 
including  Col.  Pierce,  who  lost  his  right  arm  at  the  shoul- 
der. He  went  to  Massachusetts  to  recover,  and  again 
joined  his  regiment  at  Harper's  Ferry,  Va.,  Oct.  8,  1862. 
On  Nov.  I'.t,  ist)^,  he  was  detailed  for  recruiting  service  in 
Massachusetts.  He  rejoined  the  regiment  ^Slarch  21,  18«>3, 
at  Newport  News,  Va.,  and  accompanied  it  to  Paris,  Ky. 
He  was  on  detached  duty — commanding  post  at  Paris — and 
on  recruiting  service  in  ^Massachusetts  from  April  20  to 
August  29,  1863,  when  he  again  joined  the  regiment,  going 
with  it  to  East  Tennessee,  where  he  remained  until  March 
1864.  Then  the  regiment  re-enlisted  for  three  years  and 
all  were  granted  a  thirty  days"  furlough.  On  May  16, 
1S6-1:,  Col.  Pierce  with  his  regiment  left  Boston,  Mass.,  and 
joined  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  at  Cold  Harbor,  Va.,  May 
2'.»,  isii-t.  On  July  28,  1S64,  he  obtained  leave  of  absence 
and  returned  to  Massachusetts,  where  he  remained  on  sick 
leave  until  Oct.  24,  18(;4,  when  he  rejoined  his  regiment 
at  Petersburg,  Va.  He  resigned  his  commission  as  colonel 
Nov.  8,  ls(i4,  and  returned  home. 

After  the  war  he  was  appointed  Revenue  Collector 
but  not  confirmed.  He  also  travelled  West  and  South 
speculating  in  real  estate  unsuccessfully.  Returning  to 
Assonet  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  days  in  no  especial 
business.  He  served  one  term  on  the  board  of  selectmen 
of  Freetown.  Col.  Pierce  married  Irene  I.  Payne  of  Free- 
town, and  they  had  one  son,  Palo  Alto  Pierce,  born  Jan. 
22,  1853.  On  ]\lay  1.  1n75,  Mrs.  Pierce  obtained  a  divorce 
from  Col.  Pierce.  On  April  .>.  lsii:>,  he  married  Ida  E. 
Gardner.      He  died  Aug.  14,  11MI2. 

lOf) 


William  Read,  son  of  John  and  Rosamond  (Hath- 
away) Read,  was  born  in  Freetown,  March  13,  1809,  and 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Freetown.  He  com- 
menced to  go  to  sea   early  in  life,  and  became  a  master 

mariner  before  he  was 
30  years  of  age.  When 
the  Southerners  seceded 
he  cominanded  a  mer- 
chant vessel  in  the  south- 
ern trade,  and  was  at 
Darien,  (xa.,  the  last  of 
April,  ISOI.  While  he 
was  loading  a  cargo  of 
lumber,  one  evening  he 
overheard  a  part  of  a 
plan  to  take  his  vessel ; 
so  in  the  night  he 
slipped  quietly  out  of 
the  river  and  put  to  sea 
and  came  home.  He 
had  with  him  at  that 
time  his  son,  Charles  H.. 
who  afterwards  served 
in  the  ."iSth  Mass.  Vols.  When  he  reached  home  he  found 
that  his  son  Edward  E.  had  gone  wSouth  with  Company  G, 
3d  M.  V.  M.  On  the  'I'ld  of  Nov.,  18G4,  Capt.  Read  was 
appointed  Acting  Ensign  and  Pilot  and  attached  to  the 
Ironclad  Passaic  of  the  vSouth  Atlantic  Blockading  Squad- 
ron. He  served  until  June  13,  1805,  when  his  services 
were  no  longer  required.  After  the  war  he  again  engaged 
in  maritime  business  until  his  death.  He  was  drowned  in 
Assonet  Bay  July  8,  18T(».  Capt.  Read  married  Eliza  Sta- 
ples April  28,  1838.  Their  children — Rosamond  A.,  born 
Jan.  13,  1839,  William  H.  H.,  May  12,  1841,  Edward  E. 
and  Ellen  E.  (twins)  Feb.  7,  1843,  Charles  H.,  Jan.  28, 
1845,    Flelen   M.,    Feb.    15,    1848,   Irving  W.,    March  29, 

1850,  Ella  J.,  Feb.  IT,   1S53. 

106 


CAPT.    WILLIAM     READ, 


Silas  Peirce  Richmond,  son  of  Isaac  and  Lucinda 
(Peirce)  Richmond,  was  born  in  Freetown  June  19,  1831, 
on  the  Richmond  Homestead,  which  has  been  owned  in 
the  family  continuously  since  ITT.").  Educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Free- 
town and  at  Peirce 
Academy,  ]Middle- 
boro,  he  engaged  in 
farming  and  lumber 
business  in  early  life. 
He  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany (r,  8d  Regt.  j\I. 
V.  M.  in  May,  18:)0. 
He  was  appointed  cor- 
poral in  April  18,51  ; 
c  o  m  missioned  4th 
Lieut,  of  same  com- 
pany in  August,  1851  ; 
3d  Lieut,  in  August, 
1853;  1st  Lieut,  in 
May,  1854;  Captain  in 
May,  1855;  Major  and 
Brigade  Inspector  2d 
Brig.  M.  V.  M.  July 
■2[K  1N5(;.  He  was  in  Kansas  in  ls;)7-S,  and  served  with 
John  Brown  in  repelling  the  Border  Ruffians.  He  returned 
to  Massachusetts  and  was  appointed  Aid-de-Camp,  2d  Bri- 
gade, M.  V.  M..  Sept.  15,  1S58,  and  in  that  capacity 
responded  to  the  call  for  the  "Minute  Men"  April  15,  isOl, 
serving  at  Fortress  Monroe  and  Hampton,  Va.,  taking 
part  in  the  battle  of  Big  Bethel  June  10,  ISOI.  At  the 
end  of  that  campaign  he  returned  to  Massachu.setts  and 
was  honorably  discharged.  On  the  sth  of  May,  1S(V2,  he 
was  commissioned  Lieut. -Colonel,  3d  Regt.  M.  V.  M..  and 
as  such  responded  to  the  call  to  reinforce  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  at  the  time  of  General  Banks'  retreat  in  the 
vShenandoah   Valley.      In  July,    18<)2,  he    was    ordered   by 

107 


COL     SILAS    P.    RICHMOND. 


Gov.  Andrew  to  reorganize  and  recruit  the  -^d  Regt.  M.  V. 
M.  to  the  maximum  for  service  in  the  field.  He  completed 
that  work  and  the  regiment  was  mustered  into  the  U.  vS. 
service,  1<»40  strong,  Sept.  1."),  1802.  He  was  commis- 
sioned as  Colonel  of  the  Hd  Regt.  Oct.  7,  {x(\'2,  and  on 
Oct.  22,  ls(>2,  he  proceeded  with  the  regiment  by  steamer 
to  Newbern,  N.  C.  During  that  campaign,  he  participated 
in  the  Battles  of  Kingston,  White-hall,  Goldsboro,  Deep 
(xully,  Blounts  Creek  and  in  repelling  the  bombardment 
of  Newbern,  N.  C,  he  commanded  a  brigade  a  part  of  the 
time.      At  the  end  of  this  term  of  service   he   returned  to 


RESIDENCE    OF    SAMUEL     RICHMOND    1775,    ISAAC    RICHMOND    1825, 
COL     SILAS    P,    RICHMOND    186s 


Massachusetts  On  the  2sth  of  September,  iso;;,  he  was 
commissioned  Colonel  of  the  ,jSth  Mass.  Vols.,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  recruit  that  regiment.  Nov.  21,  lSt;;3,  he  was 
appointed  superintendent  of  recruiting  in  Bristol,  Plym- 
outh, Barnstable,  Nantucket  and  Dukes  Counties,  and  as 
such  continued  the  recruiting  of  the  .")Sth  Regt.  until  it 
was  ordered  to  join  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  April  28, 
18r)4.  July  i;»,  isiU.  he  was  detailed  Asst.  Provost  Mar- 
shal General  of  the  Department  of  the  South,  and  served 
as  such  at  Hilton  Head,  Savannah,  (7a.,  and  Charleston, 
S.  C.      He  was  on  the  first  steamer  that  reached  Savannah 

10!S 


when  it  was  taken,  and  on  the  first  U.  S.  steamer  that 
went  to  Charleston,  when  that  city  was  captured.  He  was 
honorably  mustered  out  of  the  service  in  Sept.  ISC);").  He 
engaged  in  lumber  and  grain  business  in  Indiana  and 
Michiofan  in  ist'.T-l*.  Col.  Richmond  has  been  a  Justice  of 
the  Peace  for  more  than  forty  years,  and  is  also  a  Notary 
Public.  He  was  for  ten  years  chairman  of  the  Board  of 
Selectmen  of  Freetown.  As  Auditor  in  lS.-)4-  he  prepared 
the  first  printed  report  ever  made  of  the  finances  of  Free- 


RICHMOND    LANDING,    FORGE    POND. 

town.  He  has  also  served  as  Assessor,  Town  Clerk  and 
School  Committee.  He  served  eighteen  vearsas  Moderator 
at  annual  town  meetings.  He  was  a  Representative  in  the 
Legislature  from  the  <>th  Bristol  District  in  ls!>2.  He  was 
a  delegate  to  the  National  Republican  Convention  in  ls92; 
a  turnkey  in  the  Mass.  State  Prison  l.sTl-l»;  deputy  keeper 
in  the  Bristol  County  House  of  Correction  1871>-N2;  Oen. 
Trav.  Agt.  C.  C.  G.  Co.  lS,s2-i>;   president  Bristol  County 

109 


Agricultural  Society  1S80-H1  ;  member  of  Post  1,  Mass.  G. 
A.  R.  He  is  a  Mason  and  Knight  Templar  since  18P»5. 
Jan.  1,  1S!M>,  he  was  appointed  deputy  sheriff  and  court 
crier  of  the  Supreme  and  Superior  Courts  in  Bristol  County, 
and  now  holds  that  position. 

Married  Elizabeth  J.  Haskins  June  16,  1850.  Chil- 
dren: Emma  A.,  born  March  10,  1851;  Cynthia  E., 
March  25,  185;^,;  Sarah  E.  E.,  July  1,  1854;  Walter  S., 
Feb.  22,  1S57;  Flora  J.,  May  7,  ]S51>;  Lillian  F.,  Aug.  8, 
18«;i  . 

Married  Zadie  Scott  Jan.  IT,  18<1'.».  Children:  Annie 
E.,  born  Aug.  21>,  1871  ;  Roy  S.,  Aug.  ?,,  1873;  Ruth  E., 
May  14,  1882;  Forrest  S.,  Aug.  4,  188:3;  Isaac  F.,  Jan. 
7,  188(;;    Mark  H..Oct.  5,  18S!». 

H.  Emuudck  Tixkmam,  son  of  Harvey  and  Jane 
(Cornish)  Tinkham,  was  born  in  Middleboro,  May  7,  1832, 
and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  in  that  town.  He 
learned  the  complete  trade   of  a  shoemaker.      In   1854  he 

married  Betsey  D. 
Weaver  of  Assonet  and 
settled  down  in  Free- 
town and  carried  on 
shoemaking. 

In  18«)1  he  entered 
the  U.  S.  Navy  as  a 
Master's  Mate,  and  was 
promoted  to  Ensign  in 
1863.  He  was  attached 
at  different  times  to  sev- 
eral steamers  in  the 
Atlantic  Blockading 
Scpiadron.  He  also  par- 
ticipated in  several  im- 
portant naval  battles, 
among  which  were  the 

ENSIGN     H      ELBRIDGE    TINKHAM  ^^^"ICS     of      Port      Royal, 

110 


New  Orleans,  Fort 
Fisher  and  Mobile  Bay. 
In  the  last  named  battle 
he  was  on  the  flagship  of 
Admiral  Farragut  and 
received  sixteen  severe 
splinter  wounds  from 
which  he  never  fully  re- 
covered. He  remained 
in  the  Navy  until  iMtiT. 
when  he  was  honorably 
discharged.  Afterward  he 
was  for  several  years 
Railroad  »Station  Agent 
at  iVssonet.  He  died 
February  12,  ISUi,  and 
his  widow  died  June  t>, 
1896. 


CAPT     GEORGE    D.    WILLIAMS 


Geor(;k  D.  Williams,  son  of  Dr.  Seth  P.  and  Sinai 
(  Dean  I  Williams  was  born  in  Freetown,  Jan.  9,  IS^tt. 
He  was  educated  in  Freetown  schools  and  the  Norinal 
School  at  Bridgewater.  After  graduation,  he  taught 
schools  in  ^lassachusetts,  Illinois  and  Minnesota.  He 
enlisted  in  Company  G,  ord  Regt.,  M.  V.  M..  in  June. 
1850,  and  was  discharged  in  June,  l^.■i4.  He  re-enlisted 
in  the  same  company  in  1859;  responded  to  Lincoln's  call 
April  15,  1861,  and  served  three  months  at  Fortress 
Monroe,  as  a  vSergeant :  taking  part  in  the  destruction  of 
the  Norfolk  Navy  Yard.  April  2().  1S61.  He  enlisted  in 
Company  F,  29th  Mass.  Vols.,  in  December,  1861,  and 
was  appointed  Sergeant.  He  was  detailed  as  Regimen- 
tal Ordnance  Sergeant  during  several  months.  He  was 
promoted  to  2d  Lieut.,  Jan.  27,  1868;  1st  Lieut.,  May  21, 
186-4,  Captain,  June  8,  18«;4,  and  mustered  out  Aug.  11, 
1865.  For  several  months  he  was  in  garrison  at  Newport 
News,  Va.  In  May,  1862,  he  took  part  in  the  expedition 
to    Norfolk  and   Suffolk,   Va.      In  June,    l.s62,    he  joined 

111 


the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  serving  in  it  until  March,  \s(\?>, 
then  he  went  with  his  regiment  to  Kentucky,  and  in 
April  joined  the  army  of  Gen.  Grant  in  the  siege  of  Vicks- 
burg.  After  the  surrender  of  Vicksburg  he  advanced  to 
Jackson,  Miss.  In  August,  lsH3,  he  returned  to  Ken- 
tucky and  marched  through  Cumberland  Gap  into  East 
Tennessee  with  Gen.  Burnside,  and  was  at  the  siege  of 
Knoxville.  In  April,  ls<U,  he  came  home  on  veteran 
furlough.  In  May,  isCd,  he  again  joined  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac  and  remained  with  it  until  he  was  mustered  out. 
He  served  during  the  siege  of  Petersburg.  He  displayed 
ofreat  orallantrv  at  the  Battle  of  Malvern  Hill,  where  he 
volunteered  to  take  a  message  to  another  regiment  which 
required  him  to  cross  an  open  field  in  full  view  of  the 
enemy  and  exposed  to  a  murderous  fire.  He  walked 
across  and  back  again  in  the  coolest  manner,  winning 
much  praise  from  his  commander  and  the  plaudits  of  his 
comrades.  At  the  battle  of  Fort  Steadman,  Va.,  before 
daylight,  his  company  was  nearly  all  captured  before  it 
had  time  to  man  the  works.  While  trying  to  rally  his  men 
in  the  darkness,  a  rebel  officer  seized  him  by  the  throat, 
threw  him  on  the  ground  and  took  his  sword.  In  turn 
he  knocked  the  rebel  down,  recovered  his  sword,  and 
took  that  of  his  antagonist  and  led  the  rebel,  a  prisoner, 
to  regimental  headquarters;  on  the  way  he  notified  Capt. 
John  M.  Deane  of  the  next  company  of  the  serious  state 
of  affairs  in  the  camp,  thereby  saving  that  officer  from 
capture  or  perhaps  death.  The  captured  sword,  which  he 
brought  home,  was  marked  "Charleston  1770."  Capt. 
Williams  was  always  to  be  found  on  the  firing  line  when 
duty  called.  He  was  wounded  in  the  left  arm  at  the 
battle  of  Poplar  Grove  Church,  Va.,  Aug.  1!>,   1SG4. 

Capt.  Williams  married  Eliza  Young  Miller  of  Fall 
River,  April  -JO,  ls()4.  After  his  discharge  from  the  army 
he  returned  to  the  homestead  farm  at  Assonet,  where  he 
died  March  !»,  1;m»i>. 

\12 


LiKUT.  Georce  DuFiEK.  of  Freetown,  served  as  a 
private  in  Company  A,  Hvd  Regt..  ]\Iass.  Vols.,  as  a  vSer- 
g'eant  of  Company  B,  4th  Mass.  Cavalrv.  and  as  2d  Lieut. 
in  21st  Regt..  U.  S.  C.  T. 

Cai'T.  James  R.  Matiiewsox  came  to  Freetown  in 
1S.')4,  and  worked  in  the  Davis  &  Thresher  Gun  Factory 
.six  years.  He  enlisted  in  Company  G,  3rd  Regt.,  ]\I.\".]\I. 
in  Aug..  18.')4.  He  was  elected  1st  Lieut,  (from  private). 
May  s,  ls.">.-);  elected  Captain  March  4,  is.VT;  resigned 
July,  iStW).  He  joined  the  7th  Regt..  Mass.  A'^ols.,  and 
was  commissioned  2nd  Lieut.,  June  1."),  ist;]  ;  1st  Lieut., 
Nov.  1.'),  ls(;i  ;  Captain.  Oct.  2.').  Is(i2.  Mustered  out 
June   27.   ls«')4.      He  died  in  Taunton. 

Lieut.  Eimikaim  H.  Haski.xs,  son  of  Russell  and 
Mercy  Haskins.  was  born  in  Freetown.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  Company  (t,  ;!rd  Regt..  M.  V.  M..  and  served  with 
the  company  in  the  Fortress  Munroe  campaign  in  l.Stil. 
He  joined  the  .^sth  Regt..  ^Liss.  A^)ls..  in  l.s(;4.  served  as 
1st  Sergt.,  and  was  commissioned  2nd  Lieut.,  Au<j-.  8, 
1S(;4.  He  was  killed  in 
the  battle  near  the  Wel- 
don  Railroad,  Wa..  Sept. 
:'.(»,  lsr,4. 

L  I  E  u  r.  J  <i  11  x  A. 
San'i.es,  of  Somerset, 
Alass.,  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany G,  3rd  Regt..]\I.\\ 
M.,  in  June,  1  s.").') ;  dis- 
charged July,  ls,-)(;.  He 
was  a  1st  Lieut,  in  the 
21»th  Regt.,  :\Iass.  Vols., 
Dec.  1 :!.  1  si;  |  ,  and  served 
with  that  regiment  until 
Sept.  12,  ls(;2,  when  he 
resigned. 

Lieut.  G  e  o  r  < ;  e  H  . 
Wixsi.ow,  son  of  Abner 


LIEUT     GEORGE    H      WINSLOW 


ii;j 


Winslow,  was  born  in  Freetown.  He  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany G,  :^)rd  Regt..  ]\I.  V.  M.,  in  is,*),");  was  discharged 
Jan.  ;)1.  \H^>U,  and  mustered  into  Company  G  (Fall  River), 
20th  Regt.,  Mass.  Vols.,  Sept.  24,  ISCI.  He  served  as 
Private,  Corporal,  vSergeant,  and  was  commissioned  2d 
Lieut.,  May  ;>1 ,  ls<'.;!.  He  was  mustered  out  Nov.  7,  ISOl. 
Caft.  HlR.\^[  B.  Wethekell  was  appointed  bv  Pres- 
ident Lincoln  a  Captain  and  Quarter-Master  in  the  Reg- 
ular Army  and  served  during  the  Rebellion.  After  the 
war  he  came  to  Freetown  and  lived  on  the  homestead  of 
Capt.  Elisha  Pratt,  the  father  of  his  wife.  For  25  vears 
he  was  prt)minent  in  town  affairs,  serving  on  the  school 
committee  several  terms. 

The  following  men  enlisted  in  the  Spanish-American 
War,  IS  OS,  viz.  :  — 

]\liLTON  Irvin(;  Deane,  (xunner's  Mate,  U.  vS.  Moni- 
tor, Lehigh. 

Pembroke  Peirce,  Company  F,  1st   Regt.,  M.  V.  M. 

Frank  Russell  Win(;,  Company  I,  1st  Regt.,  R.  I. 
Volunteers. 


Soldiers  buried  in    Freetown,   whose  graves  are  dec 
orated  each  Memorial   Dav : 

ASSOXKT    CKML•|■KR^■. 

ITtr?'  of  I\i'bcllio)i . 

John  Q.    Adams,  Russkll  Haskins, 

Chf.stkr  W.    Bkicuis,  Chari.ks  R.  Hasklns, 

Clemeni'  C.    Cannon,  Sam.  C.  Hathaway, 

James  C.   Ci.ahk,  Lvxdk   Haihawav, 

George   H.   Dkan,  Andriav   T.  Hambly, 

William   R.  Dkan,  Rof'.EKi'    Ienkins, 

Joseph   W.  Dunham,  John    \\ .   Marble, 

William    H.    Fisher,  [ohn    If.  Nichols, 

Joseph   W.  Goff,  Liihek   Pickens, 

James  H.   Haskell,  Wilijam    Pratt, 

Abram   Haskell,  Enos  B.  Payne, 

Ahram   H.  Haskell,  Ebexezer  W.  Pierce, 

114 


James  M.  Peikce,  H.  E.  Tinkham, 

William   Read,  Joseph   B.  Weaver, 

Edward   E.  Read,  Thomas  Westgate, 

William   Rose,  William  S.  Winslow, 

Andrew  J.  Thresher,  Joseph  W.  Winslow, 

James  Thompson,  Elerv  B.  Wvatt, 
George   D.  Williams. 

BRAl.l■■.^    Ckmkikkv. 
J I 'a?-  of  Rebellion. 
Philo   L.  Bralev,  Martin   Haskell, 

George  McCullv.  William   Haskell, 

Ephraim   Haskell,  Phineas  Reynolds, 

Bkai.kvxh.i.k  Ckmi-.tkrv. 

War  of  Rebellion. 

John   Westgate,  Preserved  Westgate. 

Wcxr  of  I  Si 2. 
Roger  Haskell,  Thomas  Westgate. 

Noah  Reynolds, 

CllACK  CK^rK•l•KKV. 

Weir  of  Rebellion. 
AzEL  Chace,  James  F.  Vinal. 

War  of  I  Si  2. 
Asa   Spoon er. 

jMorion  Ckmktkkv. 

War  of  Rebellion. 
Andrew    J.  Fuller,  Edmund  Williams. 

Charles  T.  PeircI',. 

War  of  Revolution. 
Joseph   Cole,  Isaac   Peirce. 

Nathaniel   Morion, 

RiciiMoN!)  Ci-:MKi"i:m". 
War  of  1^12. 
John   Richmond,  Isaac   Richmond, 

Samuel   Richmond.  Jk.  Apra.m   Richmond. 

War  of  Revolution. 
Samuel   Richmond,  Jonaihan    Richmond. 

Tames   Richmond, 

llo 


ROUNSXILI.K    Ck.MKTIIRW 

War  of  Rebel lio)i. 
Albert  E.  Chace,  James  M.  Hervey, 

Seth   H.  Chace,  Simon    D.  Rounsville, 

Fisher   A.  Cleveland,  Calvin   Thomas. 

War  of  I  Si  2 . 
Gilbert   Rounsville,  Thomas  Rounsville. 

Silas  Rounsville, 

War  of  Rcvolutuvi. 
Levi   Rounsville. 

White  Cemetki<\\ 

War  of  Rebel  lion. 
Ephrai.m   Boomer,  Oliver  Washburn. 

S.  A.  Macomber, 

]]\iir  of  I  Si 2. 
Elijah   Parker 

Pmiji'  E\AXs   Blriae  (tKoi  xd. 

War  of  Rebellion. 
William   Thokpe. 

iSliciiAKi.  HAT^A^VA^■  Blkiai,  rxRouxi). 

]\\7r  of  Rebel lio)i. 
Russell   H    Haiha\va\'. 

War  of  I  Si 2. 
Michael   Ha  iti away. 

OlAKKR    BlRIAI.    (iRolXl). 

//  ar  of  Rebellion. 
John    Bo^cf.  Samuel   Peirce. 

Pi.UMMER  Burial  (tRoind. 

War  of   Rebellion. 
Andrew   Law  ion. 

Panxe  Bi  rial  CtRolm). 

War  of  Rebellioji. 
George.   O.    Houohton,  Hknrv    B.  Payne. 

Charles  C.    Payne, 

//  'ar  of  I  Si  2 . 
Henry   Payne,  George  Payne 

116 


The  Lawyers. 


BY    BENJAMIN    BUFFINTON. 


William  A.  Leonard,  of  Raynham.  was  graduated 
from  Brown  University  in  ITl'M.  He  was  among  the  first 
of  the  profession  to  practice  law  at  Assonet  Village  in 
Freetown.  He  boarded  in  the  family  of  Col.  Benjamin 
Weaver,  and  used  the  west  front  chamber  of  the  colonel's 
house  for  his  office  until  he  finished  a  building  constructed 
of  lumber  sent  from  Ravnham.  This  building  stood  a 
short  distance  south  of  the  Congregational  meeting-house, 
and  was  used  for  a  school  house  in  later  years.  Mr. 
Leonard  remained  at  Freetown  only  a  short  time  and 
then  returned  to   Raynham. 

WAsiiiX(iT()\  Ha  TH AW A\',  a  native  of  Freetown,  was 
the  son  of  Joseph  and  Eunice  (  Winslow  »  Hathaway.  He 
was  born  September  4,  1777,  and  was  graduated  from 
Brown  University  in  17t>.s.  His  law  office  stood  on  the 
north  side  of  Water  Street.  He  commenced  the  practice 
of  law  in  or  about  ls<>2.      He  died  February  lo,  isls. 

(tKorcl  Boxl'.m  Xvk  Holmes,  a  native  of  Roches- 
tei,  \\'as  the  son  of  Abraham  and  Bethiah  (Nyei  Holmes. 
He  was  admitted  to  Plymouth  County  bar,  April,  isoit. 
He  located  in  Freetown  about  islo,  in  a  building  on  the 
north-west  corner  of  ]\Iain  and  Water  vStreets,  and  prac- 
ticed law  in  Freetown  and  Fall  River.  He  married 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Abigail  Payne,  of 
Freetown,  January  s,  is];!.  Mr.  Holmes  was  a  brother 
of  Charles    J.  Holmes,  Usq.,  a  lawyer  of  great  ability  and 

117 


a  leading  citizen  of  Fall  River  for  many  years.  In  the 
war  of  lsl!>,  Mr.  (xeorge  B.  N.  Holmes  served  in  the 
United   vStates  navy. 

Hercules  Clsiim.w  was  born  in  Middleboro.  He 
there  studied  law,  and  soon  after  his  admittance  to  the 
bar  he  was  appointed  clerk  of  the  Plymouth  County  Court 
and  was  elected  as  representative  to  the  State  Legislature. 
In  Isl.")  he  settled  in  Freetown,  whence  he  was  sent  as 
Representative  to  the  General  Court  for  eight  sessions. 
He  served  one  year,  lN2l'>,  in  the  (xovernor's  Council.  He 
was  also  a  Collector  of  Customs.  He  served  in  the  militia 
of  Bristol  County  and  was  elected  Colonel  of  the  Fifth 
Regiment.  He  returned  to  Middleboro  in  1.S2S,  and  was 
again  sent  to  the  State  Legislature.  He  died  in  \S'A'2. 
He  was  a  man  highly  honored  by  his  fellow-citizens  and 
eminently  successful  in  his  profession. 

Hezekiaii  Batteele  wasborn  in  Dover,  Ma.ss.,  May:?, 
1  7s,s.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Brown  L^ni versify  in  the  class 
of  IMC),  and  afterwards  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Hercules 
Cushman,  the  honored  attorney  of  Freetown.  Upon  his 
admission  to  the  bar  he  became  partner  of  Mr.  Cushman, 
but  only  for  a  few  years,  when  he  removed  to  vSwansea 
and  there  practiced  law  until  1.S2T.  Then  he  settled  per- 
manentlv  in  Fall  River,  and  for  man_Y  years  was  one  of 
the  foremost  men  of  the  bar  in  this  vicinity.  He  was 
actively  interested  in  all  matters  relating  to  the  welfare  of 
his  adopted  home,  filling  manv  offices  of  trust  and  respon- 
sibility. He  was  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  House 
of  Representatives  Ls:!S-:!l),  and  iS-tS-ttl).  He  died  Jan- 
uary 2l\   In 7-2. 

Rl'EUs  Ba((i\  was  a  native  of  Rochester,  and  came 
to  Freetown  in  isl-l-.  He  occupied  the  same  olhce  that 
was  used  by  Mr.  Holmes.  He  was  interested  in  the  mili- 
tia of  the  State  and  was  commissioned  Captain  of  the 
Assonet  Light  Infantry  Companv,  June  i;>,  1S18,  which 
he   held  for   six   years.      He  was    a    member  of    General 

118 


Court  for  the  year  l.s:>T,  and  chairman  of  the  County 
Commissioners  for  ls2s.  He  removed  to  the  vState  of 
New  York  durin^^'  the  latter  year.  The  house  now  owned 
and  used  for  a  parsonage  by  the  Congregational  Society 
was  built  and  occupied  by  Mr.  Bacon. 

Ezra  Wilkinson  was  born  in  Wrentham,  Mass.,  Feb- 
ruary 14,  isol,  and  died  in  Dedham,  Mass.,  February  <>, 
18.S2.  He  was  graduated  from  Brown  University  in  the 
class  of  1S24,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1S28.  He 
came  to  Freetown  in  March,  182l>,  and  opened  a  law  office 
in  the  same  building  that  was  used  by  Mr.  Holmes  and 
^Ir.  Bacon.  He  soon  moved  to  Seekonk,  Mass.,  and  in 
1835  he  moved  to  Dedham,  Mass.,  where  he  remained 
until  his  death.  He  was  a  member  of  Massachusetts 
House  of  Representatives  three  sessions;  a  member  of 
the  ^Massachusetts  Constitutional  Convention  in  is.");*),  and 
xVssociate  justice  of  ^Massachusetts  Superior  Court  from 
185!>  to    1882. 

William  H.  Eddn',  a  native  of  Middleboro,  was  grad- 
uated from  Brown  University  in  \s:\\.  and  settled  in 
Freetown  in  18;-)5;  but  because  of  poor  health  he  soon 
returned  to  Middleboro,  where  he  died  in  18;')8. 

JosLi'H  Haiiia\va\'  was  born  in  Freetown,  ]March  V, 
lTi»!».  He  was  the  son  of  John  and  Betsev  iWinslow) 
Hathaway.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Brown  Universitv  in 
1S20.  He  located  and  practiced  law  in  Fall  River  in 
ls2."»  to  ls;!7.  The  first  newspaper  printed  in  Fall  River 
was  "The  Monitor,"  which  was  first  published  Januarv  6, 
1S2.-),  bv  Nathan  Hall.  Mr.  Hathawav  was  its  first  editor. 
He  was  considered  one  of  the  most  brilliant  lawvers  of  his 
dav.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  General  Court  in 
is-JT.  He  came  to  Assonet  in  18;'57,  where  he  opened  a 
law  office.  He  went  back  to  Fall  River  in  ls44,  but 
soon  returned  to  Assonet,  where  he  died  April  t»,  1805. 
He  was  during  his  life  distinguished  as  a  temperance 
lecturer. 

119 


El. NATHAN  P.  HA'|■^K\VA^•  was  born  November  1-2. 
1797,  in  Freetown,  Mass.  He  was  the  son  of  Dr.  Xieholas 
and  Anna  Peiree  Hatheway.      Elnathan  fitted  for  eolle,o-e  at 

Peiree  A  e  a  d  e  m  v  i  n 
Middleboro,  and  was 
,t;'radiiated  from  Brown 
Uni\'ersitv  in  the  class 
of  isis.  He  studied 
law  and  located  for 
practice  in  Assonet 
X^illage.  He  was  en- 
L;aged  for  many  \-ears 
in  most  of  the  impor- 
tant cases  that  came 
before  the  courts  of 
Bristol  County.  He 
held  many  offices  in 
the  town,  viz.  :  Asses- 
sor for  fi  \'  e  V  e  a  r  s. 
Treasurer  for  one  year. 
Senator  for  one  vear, 
ELNATHAN  P.  HATHEWAY  Representative    to'    the 

(Teneral  Court  for  five  years,  member  of  the  Massachu- 
setts Constitutional  Convention  in  \x^>-].  He  married 
Salome   Cushman.      He  died    January   _!.'!,   ls.-).s. 

Xiciioi.As  Ha  riiFA\  A\-,  son  of  Elnathan  P.  and  Salome 
(Cushman)  Hatheway,  was  born  in  Freetown,  vSeptem- 
ber  :■*),  ]Si>4.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of  his  native 
town,  and  Phillips  Academy.  Fie  fitted  for  colle^-e  at 
Pierce  Academy  at  Middleboro,  and  was  graduated  from 
Brown  University  in  the  class  of  ls-l-7.  He  studied  law 
in  his  father's  oftice,  preparatory  to  beinj^'  admitted  to 
the  bar  as  a  law_\'er  in  his  nati\-e  town.  In  \s:,{;  he  was 
elected  to  the  State  tSenate ;  in  \s:)~  he  was  appointed 
weig-her  and  ganger  in  the  Custom  House  at  Boston,  and 
held   the  oftice  until   istil.      He   removed  to   Fall   River  in 

lNt')7,  where  he  resumed  the  practice  of  law,  and  for  vears 

l-2() 


was  an  acti\'c  member  of  the  bar  of  Bristol  Count\-,  beini;" 
the  sueeessful  attorney  for  the  defendant  in  many  erim- 
inal  cases.  ]\Ir.  Hatheway  was  elected  alderman  in  1S7-1-; 
a  member  of  the  (jeneral  Court  in  isT,"),  and  was  Post- 
master at  Fall  River  under  the  administration  of  President 
Cleveland.  He  was  elected  Citv  Solicitor  for  the  year 
18!»<».  ^It.  Hatheway  is  well  and  favorably  known  as  a 
political  speaker,  having;'  always  been  a  worker  in  the 
ranks  of  the  Democratic  part\'.  His  son,  Nicholas  Hathe- 
way, jr.,  was  (^'raduated  at  Brown  University,  class  of 
Lsy;->.  He  studied  in  the  law  office  of  Braley  &  Swift, 
preparatory  to  beino-  admitted  to  the  bar  in  issS.  He  is 
now  a  practicing'  lawyer  in  Fall   River. 

Jl'Dce  Hknrv  K.  Brai.k\  was  born  in  Rochester, 
jSIass.,  the  son  of  vSamuel  T.  and  Mary  King  Braley.  His 
grandfather  Abner  Braley  married  Polly  Hinds  of  Free- 
town, and  lived  for  a  short  time  in  East  Freetown, 
moving  from  there  to  Fairhaven,  where  their  son  Sam- 
uel T.  was  born.  Thev  then  moved  to  that  part  of  North 
Rochester  known  as  Braley  Hill.  Bradford  Braley,  the 
brother  of  Abner  Bralev,  was  elected  vSelectman  of  Free- 
town in  is,')!!,  and  twice  went  as  Representative  to  the 
Legislature,  Judge  Bralev  was  educated  in  the  common 
school  of  his  native  town,  Rochester  Academy  and  Peirce 
Academy  at  ^^liddleboro.  He  studied  law  with  Hon. 
Hosea  Kingman  at  Bridgewater,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  Plymouth  County,  October,  ISI;*,.  He  began  to 
practice  law  in  Fall  River,  December,  ls7;>.  He  served 
the  city  as  City  vSolicitor  in  ls74,  and  as  Mayor  in  1882 
and  1S.S3.  He  was  appointed  a  judge  of  the  Superior 
Court  in  is'.il.  He  married  Caroline  W.,  daughter  of 
Philander  and  vSarah   L.  Leach. 

When  acting  officially  he  is  one  of  the  few  men  who 
come  at  once  to  the  point  and  who  say  nothing  unless  they 
have  something  relevant  to  say.  The  recent  testimon\'  of 
a  Boston  newspaper  may  fittingly  be  quoted  in  character- 
ization of  the  judge:    "No  Massachusetts  judge  seems  to 


fit  better  in  his  place  than  does  Judg-e  Braley  in  the 
equity  session.  Prompt  in  the  despatch  of  business,  quick 
to  see  the  points  at  issue,  able  instantly  to  disentangle  the 
web  of  sophistry,  or  clear  away  the  clouds  of  misstate- 
ment, misunderstanding,  or  doubt,  he  pierces  to  the  very 
marrow  of  the  question,  and  decides  ably,  fairly  and 
courageously." 

Note. —  December  17,  1902,  Governor  \V.  Murray  Crane  worthily 
advanced  Judge  Braley  to  a  seat  on  the  bench  of  the  Supreme  Judicial 
Court,  vice  Judge  Marcus  P.  Knowlton  elevated  to  Chief  Justice. 

The  Hon.  James  M.  Morton  was  born  on  vSeptem- 
ber  .5th,  1837.  His  parents,  James  M.  and  wSarah  (  Tobey) 
Morton,  were  both  natives  of  the  eastern  part  of  the  town 
of  Freetown. 

Judge  Morton  was  educated  in  the  Fall  River  High 
School,  Brown  University,  and  the  Harvard  I^aw  School. 
He  began  the  practice  of  law  in  the  office  of  the  late 
judge  Lapham. 

In  lSt»4  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Hon.  John  S. 
Brayton  and  later  Hon.  Andrew  J.  Jennings  was  taken 
into  the  firm,  which  continued  until  Judge  Morton's 
appointment  to  the  vSupreme  Judicial  Court  of  this  State 
by  Governor  Brackett,  in  September,  181M). 

The  vacancv  on  the  Bench  which  Judge  Morton  was 
called  to  fill  was  made  by  the  promotion  of  Associate 
Justice  Walkridge  A.  Field  to  the  place  of  Chief  Justice, 
a  position  which,  up  to  that  time,  had  been  held  for  many 
years  by  the  Hon.  Marcus  Morton,  who  was  also  a  descend- 
ant of  the  East  Freetown  familv. 


122 


The  Physicians. 


BY   PALO   ALTO    PIERCE. 


EARLY  in  the  beginning  of  the  seventeenth  century  we 
hear  of    an  old   midwife   called   Granny   Brightman, 
whose  circuit  of  practice  was  very  extensive.      She  lived 
in    the   southern   part   of    Freetown,    near    Shade's    Ferry. 
On  one  occasion  we  find  her  in  Beech  Woods  in  Lakeville, 
pressing  onward  in  a  severe  snow-storm  to  the  assistance 
of  a  suffering  sister.      Her  horse  gave  out  and  she  called 
upon  Isaac  Peirce  (who  had  squatted   there),   for  a  fresh 
one,  but  he  refused  her   and  allowed    her  to   pursue  her 
journey  as  best   she  could.      This  was   not  the  end  of  it. 
however,  for  when   Isaac  Peirce, —  who  was  a  Ouaker,  and 
had  left  the  Massachusetts  Bay  Colony  on  account  of  the 
bitter   feeling    which    still    continued    there   toward  those 
professing  that  faith, — next  went  to  the  Friends' Quarterly 
Meeting  at  Swansea,  whom  should  he  find  there  but  ( xranny 
Brightman  ?     She  had  come  to  enter  complaint  against  him 
for  refusing  her  assistance  in   her  time  of   need,  and  after 
a  patient  hearing  it  was  determined   as  the  sense  of  the 
meeting,  that  he  should  make  to  her  a  formal  and  humble 
acknowledgement  of  his  fault,  which  he  accordingly  did. 
In    1734,    March    twenty-sixth,    the     town    voted    to 
Thomas  Brownell  the  sum  of  six  pounds  to  doctor  Hannah 
Negus  one  month,  and  again   the  said  Brownell  was  paid 
the  next  year   for   similar   services  five  pounds,  ten  shil- 
lings, and  was  to   find   meat  for  himself  and  furnish  his 

own  horse. 

123 


Dr.  John  Turxkr,  a  native  of  Freetown,  living  at 
what  was  then  called  Bowenville,  within  the  present  limits 
of  Fall  River,  had  a  practice  which  extended  as  far  as 
Newport  on  the  south,  where  his  services  were  constantlv 
in  deinand  during  the  Revolution.  In  manner  he  was 
very  brusque.  The  story  is  told  of  his  having  been  called 
to  Josiah  Winslow,  one  of  the  settlers,  who  had  while 
attempting  to  mend  his  chimney  by  standing  on  the 
trammel,  sustained  a  fall  and  injury  to  his  head.  Dr. 
Turner  arriving,  and  asking  the  usual  "How  d've  do," 
his  patient  answered  in  a  faint  voice,  "Oh  doctor,  I'm 
afraid  I've  knocked  my  brains  out !  "  "  Pshaw,  Mr.  Wins- 
low,  no  such  thing,  you  never  had  any  brains,"  was  the 
doctor's  reply.  Dr.  Turner  was  of  large  frame  and  well 
proportioned,  and  lived  to  a  good  old  age  highly  esteemed 
among  his  brethren.  He  had  two  sons  who  were  physi- 
cians. John,  the  younger,  1:>orn  ]\Iarch  '2'2,  174s,  com- 
menced practice  in  Freetown  and  had  the  care  of  a  hos- 
pital for  inoculation  of  small-pox  in  1TT7.  He  was  also 
employed  by  the  Government  in  the  Xavy. 

Dr.  Jkssk  Bullock  came  into  Freetown  over  one 
hundred  years  ago,  from  Rehoboth.  He  married  Mehit- 
able  Winslow  in  17(*>.").  In  1774  he  was  chosen  one  of  a 
committee  to  draft  resoUitions  expressive  of  the  sense  of 
the  town  in  regard  to  the  destruction  of  the  tea  in  Boston 
Harbor.  In  1777  Dr.  Bullock  was  recommended  to  have 
the  care  of  a  hospital  for  the  inoculation  of  small  pox. 
In  177!>  he  was  chosen  chairman  of  a  committee  to  draw 
up  instructions  for  a  delegate  to  the  Constitutional  Con- 
vention of  17so.  In  17s:)  he  was  elected  Representative 
to  General  Court.  He  was  also  appointed  a  [ustice  of  the 
Peace.  He  had  an  extensive  practice,  at  least  territoriallv. 
and  was  a  man  of  wide  reading  and  general  intelligence, 
and  was  considered  an  authority  in  his  profession. 

Dr.  William  Carplnilr  was  l)orn  in  Rehoboth  in 
1771,  pursued  his  medical  studies  with  his  uncle,  Dr.  Jesse 
Bullock,   and  finally  took   a   large   share  of    the    practice. 

124 


With  medical  literature  and  many  of  those  branches 
usually  pursued  in  medical  schools,  he  was  probably  not 
intimately  acquainted ;  his  knowledge  was  obtained  rather 
at  the  bedside  of  the  sick  than  from  books.  He  possessed 
a  delicac}'  of  discrimination  which  the  mere  book-worm 
might  envy.  His  method  of  treatment  was  heroic,  and 
he  was  verv  successful.  His  native  good  sense,  mechan- 
ical turn  of  mind  and  a  lack  of  anything  like  timidity  in 
seasons  of  danger,  eminently  fitted  him  for  his  profession. 
He  was  famed  for  his  success  in  treatment  of  intermittent 
fever  by  active  emetics  and  cathartics.  He  was  naturally 
irascible  and  combative,  and  had  it  not  been  for  his  relig- 
iotis  principle  he  inight  have  been  quarrelsome,  for  he 
frequently  acknowledged  that  the  control  of  his  temper 
had  cost  him  many  a  se\'ere  effort.  Dr.  Carpenter's  influ- 
ence in  public  and  private  was  thrown  decidedly  on  the 
side  of  order  and  good  morals.  He  died  December  tl, 
ls-i-l»,  aged   78  vears. 

Dk.  XicHoLAs  Haiukwan'  was  contemporary  with  Dr. 
Carpenter.  Born  in  North  Dighton,  December  4,  1T7;>, 
he  was  the  son  of  Stephen  and  Hope  (Peircei  Hatheway. 
He  graduated  from  Brown  University  in  June,  1794,  and 
commenced  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Freetown  the  same 
year.  He  married  Anna  Peirce,  December  .'!,  17!»5.  In 
17'J(i  he  had  what  was  called  a  pest-house,  and  one  thou- 
sand persons  went  thither  to  be  inoculated,  there  to 
remain  six  weeks.  Dr.  Hatheway  attended  for  this  period 
and  received  from  each  patient  two  dollars  for  his  ser- 
vices. He  practiced  in  Freetown  twentv-three  years,  and 
was  very  generally  beloved.  Dr.  Hathewav  and  Mr. 
David  Leonard  (grandfather  of  Secretary  John  Hay)  mar- 
ried sisters,  and  in  lsl7  both  men  with  their  families 
moved  to  Ohio,  to  the  great  regret  of  their  townspeople. 
yiv.  (zuilford  H.  Hathaway  used  to  tell  how  he  remem- 
bered, as  a  small  boy,  sitting  down  by  the  roadside  and 
crying  when  he  saw  Dr.  Hatheway's  household  goods 
being  carried   away.      His  wife  Anna  died  Sept.  28,  1822, 

l-2o 


and  April  15,  1S24-,  Dr.  Hatheway  married  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Morton,  widow  of  David  Morton.  A  daughter  Anna,  born 
in  Is-JT,  afterward  Mrs.  Gillespie,  was  the  only  child  by 
this  marriage.  He  died  August  24,  l.s4S.  Dr.  Hatheway 
went  west  with  the  intention  of  quitting  the  practice  of 
medicine,  but  the  locality  where  he  settled  was  malarial, 
and  his  medical  services  were  in  such  demand  that  he 
acquired  a  very  extensive  practice.  All  his  traveling  was 
done  on  horseback ;  once  even  he  rode  to  Massachusetts 
and  returned  upon  his  horse.  He  was  at  one  time  Asso- 
ciate justice  for  Union  County  and  a  Representative  to  the 
Ohio  State  Legislature  in  ls22,  1834-35.  He  was  a  man  of 
o-reat  abilitv,  in  politics  a  strong  Jacksonian  Democrat. 
He  was  portly,  of  a  commanding  presence,  and  was  affable, 
o-enerous.  and  enjoyed  fullv  the  confidence  of  everyone 
who  knew  him. 

Dr.    TiinMA>    IjLMI'    succeeded     Dr.  Hatheway.      He 
was   born    in    Middleboro.   July    S,    17!M),   and    died    Octo- 
ber   5,    ISIT,   aged    s7 
years.       He    fitted    for 
college  at  Pierce  Acad- 
emy    in      Middleboro, 
being  a   student   there 
at  the  opening  in  isos, 
and      was      graduated 
from     Brown     Univer- 
sity in  is]  4.      In  choice 
of     a      profession     his 
mind  was    first   direct- 
ed   toward    the   minis- 
try, but    he  finally  de- 
cided   upon    the    prac- 
tice of  medicine,  study- 
ing    with       Dr.     Arad 
Thompson   of    Middle- 
boro   till    prepared    to 
practice,  and  then    en- 


THOWIAS    BUMP,    M     D 


v:g 


tering  the  extensive  field  of  Dr.  Nicholas  Hatheway  in 
Freetown,  which  the  latter  had  concluded  to  abandon, 
and  continuing  in  it  for  nearly  sixty  years.  Unlike  most 
physicians  he  kept  his  prices  down  to  the  old  standard, 
extracting  a  tooth  for  "ninepence"  and  charging  from  a 
quarter  of  a  dollar  to  thirty-seven  and  a  half  cents  for 
a  visit,  and  if  the  patient  was  poor  rarely  calling  for  pay- 
ment of  these  small  sums.  The  war  prices  caused  by  the 
Rebellion  compelled  him  to  increase  his  charges,  which 
even  then  he  did  not  allow  to  exceed  fifty  cents  a  visit. 
Dr.  Bump  was  repeatedly  elected  to  the  school  board, 
where  he  served  twelve  years.  He  was  Town  Clerk  in 
the  years  ls^4,-'2o,-';32,-';v3,-'34,  and  was  a  Selectman  in 
1828.  He  was  a  Representative  to  the  General  Court  in 
1828-2i^  was  commissioned  Justice  of  the  Peace  Febru- 
ary 2.5,  1880,  and  vSurgeon  of  the  5th  Regiment  of  local 
militia  in  1818.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat,  not  simply 
by  profession,  but  by  heart.  In  fact  he  was  too  honest  a 
man  to  be  anything  by  profession  that  he  was  not  in  real- 
ity. He  married,  just  before  he  came  to  Freetown,  Miss 
Pulcheria  Olney  of  Providence. 

There  were  some  other  physicians  in  town  in  the 
century  covered  by  Dr.  Hatheway  and  Dr.  Bump.  Dr. 
Joshua  H.  Brett,  son  of  the  first  minister  ordained  in 
Freetown,  born  June  21»,  1751,  was  a  physician  of  some 
note,  and  was  also  chosen  a  school-master  for  the  vear 
1788.  A  Dr.  James  Ashley,  who  lived  in  the  easterly 
part  of  the  town,  had  a  medical  bill  allowed  bv  the  town 
in  l8<»-t.  Dr.  Cornelius  Tobey,  who  appears  as  a  vSelect- 
man  in  180H,  was  son  of  Dr.  Tobey  of  Dartmouth,  a  man 
quite  distinguished  in  his  time,  being  the  preceptor  of 
Dr.  William  Baylies  of  Dighton  and  Dr.  Ebenezer 
Winslow  of  Swansea.  Dr.  (31iver  Cushing  had  an 
account  allowed  in  l8ir..  He  was  a  graduate  of  the 
medical  department  of  Brown  University  and  he  re- 
mained but  a  year  in  Freetown.  Dr.  Seth  E.  Pratt, 
son    of    Dr.     Seth    Pratt    of    Easton,    commenced     prac- 

127 


lice  in  Taunton  near 
Myricksvillc  in  lS:;-iand 
removed  to  Freetown 
in  iSo.").  He  remained 
only  about  three  years, 
when  lie  returned  to 
Easton.  where  he  died 
shortly  after.  Dr.  B. 
W.  Hathaway,  a  native 
of  Freetown,  studied 
with  Dr.  Pratt  and  Dr. 
Swan.  After  praetising 
here  with  more  eredit 
to  himself  than  profit, 
he  removed  to  Fall 
River,  and  later  went 
to  California. 


THOMAS    G     NICHOLS,    M    0. 


Dk.  Thomas  Ct.  Nichols,  a  son  of  Captain  John 
Niehols,  was  born  in  Freetown,  November  It,  lsll>,  and 
reeeived  his  literary  education  at  Union  College,  where 
he  was  graduated  in  ls4:!  with  high  standing  in  his  class. 
In  the  Fall  of  l.s-1-4  he  began  studying  with  Dr.  Willard 
Parker  in  New  York  City,  and  attended  the  course  of 
lectures  at  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  in 
that  city  the  succeeding  winter.  He  next  studied  at  the 
Jefferson  Medical  College  in  Philadelphia,  and  returned 
to  Freetown  to  begin  the  practice  of  medicine  there  in 
1n47.  In  \So-2  he  was  married  to  Miss  Irene  Lazell, 
daughter  of  Barzillai  Crane  of  Berkeley.  In  ls(;i>  Dr. 
Nichols  became  a  partner  and  the  financial  manager  in 
the  firm  of  N.  R.  Davis  &  Co.,  continuing  this  connection 
until  his  death,  February  IC),  iss;>.  He  was  for  over 
thirty  years  an  active  and  influential  member  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church  in  Assonet,  a  man  who  took  a  deep 
interest  in  public  aftairs  and  was  foremost  in  all  that 
pertained   to  the   best  interests  of  the  town. 

128 


Dr.  P2i)^[UN1)  Valentine  Hathawan'  was  born  in 
Freetown,  January  IS,  1888,  the  son  of  Capt.  Edmund 
Hathaway.  He  was  graduated  from  Brown  University  in 
18-40,  studied  medicine  and  located  in  Providence.  R.  I., 
where  he  practised  until  the  gold  mines  of  California 
were  discovered  in  184lt,  when  he  went  to  San  Francisco 
and  later  entered  the  commission  and  warehouse  business 
with  his  brother,  Charles  W.  Hathaway.  As  a  member 
of  the  Vigilance  Committee  of  18.")(i,  he  became  a  promi- 
nent figure  in  the  stirring  affairs  of  that  time.  The 
brothers  were  generous  supporters  of  vStarr  King's  church. 
Dr.  Hathaway  was  married  in  I8B1!  to  Miss  Katherine 
A.  Buffum  of  Providence,  R.  I.  He  was  a  resident  of 
Berkeley.  Cal..  at  the  time  of  his  death.  December  10, 
I89t).  Although  he  never  practised  medicine  in  Free- 
town, mention  of  him  among  our  physicians  seems  most 
appropriate,  as  he  never  lost  interest  in  his  native  town, 
the  bell  of  the  Christian  Church  being  a  gift  from  him. 

Dr.  Joseph  C.  Hathewav,  son  of  Hon.  Elnathan  P. 
Hathewav.  was  born  in  Freetown  in  is:',;!.  He  studied 
medicine  with  Dr.  Bump  for  one  year,  then  entered  the 
Jefferson  Medical  College  in  Philadelphia,  where  he  grad- 
uated in  I806,  and  at  once  established  an  office  in  Ottawa, 
Illinois.  He  was  one  of  the  oldest  members  of  the  La 
Salle  County  Medical  Socieiy.  and  has  acted  as  president 
of  the  same.  He  was  also  connected  with  the  vState  Med- 
ical Society.  At  one  time  he  held  the  position  of  County 
Physician  and  Stirgeon,  and  was  an  efficient  member  of 
the  United  States  Board  of  Pension  Examiners.  In  1S57 
the  doctor  married  Miss  Annie  Crane  of  Assonet.  She 
died  March  1."),  IS*;;),  and  he  married  Miss  ]Mary  J.  Church 
in  June.  isOl,  and  again  February  !•.  1M>7,  he  married 
Mrs.  C.  S.  Phelps. 

Dr.    Bradford     Bralev    was    the    youngest    son    of 

Ezekiel  and    Mary  (Trippi   Braley.      Born  July   12.  IT'.to, 

he  commenced  his  life  of  usefulness  by  going  among  the 

sick  as  a  nurse,  and  on  the  death  of  Dr.  Spooner  of  Long 

129 


Plain,  purchased  his  books  and  qualified  himself  for  his 
subsequent  long  and  successful  practice.  He  held  vari- 
ous town  offices,  was  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  many 
years  and  twice  represented  his  town  in  the  Legislature. 
He  married  Patience  Parker,  by  whom  he  had  nine  sons 
and  three  daughters.  Three  sons,  Alphonso  C,  Alonzo 
H.,  Philo  L.,  and  his  two  sons-in-law,  Lemuel  Washburn 
and  (Te(jrge  ^IcCullv,  were  in  the  Union  Army,  and  two 
died  of  disease  contracted  in  the  service.  Dr.  Braley  died 
Februarv  7,  lSl-2.  He  was  an  uncle  of  his  Honor,  H.  K. 
Braley  of  Fall  River. 

Dr.  Skth  p.  Williams,  father  of  the  late  Capt.  George 
Dean  Williams  practiced  in  Freetown  for  quite  a  term  of 
years,  and  it  is  regretted  that  it  is  impossible  f(jr  the 
writer  to  give  a  detailed  account  of  his  life. 

Contemporarv  for  a  short  time  with  Dr.  Bump  and 
finallv  absorbing  the  entire  practice,  was  Dr.  Hexrv  Ham- 
IL  TON    Si'RoAT,   Son   of    Earl    and    Bethania    Sproat,    and 

a  grandson  of  Judge 
Weston  of  Plymouth 
Countv.  He  was  born 
in  Middleboro  on  April 
In,  Js4i>.  He  spent  his 
early  life  at  the  old 
Sproat  homestead  in 
Muttock,  a  house  not- 
able for  the  fact  that 
Lafayette  once  spent 
the  night  there,  while 
B e n  j  a  m in  F r a n  k  1  i  n 
held  receptions  in  it. 
He  attended  P e i r c e 
A  cade  m  }-  a  n  d  r  e  a  d 
medicine  \\-  i  t  h  Dr. 
Comstock,  later  attend- 
ing the   Harvard  Med- 

HENRY     H     SPROAT,    M     D  ical       ScllOol,      wllcrc     hc 

i:5() 


was  graduated  with 
honor  in  isC),").  He 
was  then  ehosen  for 
iinmediate  serviee  in 
the  army,  being  ap- 
pointed Acting  Assist- 
ant Surgeon  of  the 
i!.-)th  Army  Corps,  and 
after  Lee's  surrender 
was  sent  to  Texas, 
where  he  was  dis- 
charged on  account  of 
ilhiess  in  September, 
lS(')o.  Next  he  estab- 
lished a  practice  in 
East  Taunton,  but 
after  a  short  time  he 
went     to      California.  charles  a   briggs,  m  d 

extending  the  tour  to  China  and  Japan.  Upon  returning 
to  San  Francisco  he  accepted  the  post  of  surgeon  on  one 
of  the  Pacific  Mail  Steamers  running  between  San  Fran- 
cisco and  Panama.  When  these  trips  were  discontinued 
he  came  east  and  located  in  Assonet  in  Ist'.'.i.  In  Septem- 
ber, 1872.  he  married  Katherine,  daughter  of  John  and 
Ellen  Thorpe.  He  re.sided  in  As.sonet  until  his  death, 
^larch  14.  lsi»2.  He  was  a  member  of  the  [Massachusetts 
Society  of  the  Cincinnati,  inheriting  membership  from 
his  uncle.  Col.  Ebenezer  vSproat  of  Revolutionary  fame, 
who  was  one  of  the  charter  members.  He  was  also  a 
member  of  the  Mas.sachusetts  ^Medical  vSociety.  He  was 
considered  an  authority  as  a  physician,  and  was  a  genial 
man  of  generous  nature,  a  stranger  to  sophistry. 

Dr.  Charles  A.  Brkuis,  the  present  physician,  was 
born  in  Charlestown,  Mass.,  December  •_'.').  Ist;:;.  He 
attended  the  public  schools  in  Brockton,  was  graduated 
from  Brown  University  in  bss").  and  studied  at  the  Long 
Island    College    Hospital    from    ISsC    to    bsSl*.       He    was 


appointed  interne  at  the  hospital  after  graduation  and 
remained  there  one  year.  In  1S1»1  he  went  to  Swansea, 
but  in  1S!»2  eame  to  Assonet,  in  Freetown.  The  esteem 
in  which  he  is  hekl  speaks  for  itself  and  needs  no 
comment. 


RESIDENCE    OF    CHARLES    A     BRIGGS,    Wl     D. 


i:« 


TOWN     HALL  — BUILT 


Town  Officers. 


LIST   OF    CLERKS.    TREASURERS.    SELECTMEN.    ASSESSORS, 
SCHOOL    COMMITTEES,   POSTMASTERS.   STATE    REP- 
RESENTATIVES.  SENATORS.  GOVERNOR  S 
COUNCILORS,  AND    GOVERNOR. 


i:« 


JOSEPH  S  TAYLOR. 


PALO    ALTO    PEIRCE. 


RESIDENCE    OF    JOSEPH    S     TAYLOR. 


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CHARLES    BRALEY. 


GEORGE    B.   CUDWORTH. 


JOHN    H.   EVANS. 


GILBERT     M      NICHOLS 


143 


ASvSESSORS    OF    FREETOWN 


1690 

1691 

1692-96 

1697 

1698-99 

1700 

1701 

1702-03 

1704 

1705 

1706 

1707 

1708-'09 

1710 

1711 

1712 

1713 

1714 

171 5-' 16 

1717 

1718 

1719 

1720 

1721 

1722 

1723 

1724 

1725-29 

1730 

1731 

1732 

1733 

1734 

1735 

1736-44 

1745 

1746 

1747-49 

1750 

1751 

1752 

1753 

1754 


John  Reed,  Samuel  Gardiner. 

John  Reed,  Job  Winslow,  Samuel  Gardiner,  Benjamin 

No  record.  [Chase,  Robert  Durfee. 

Joshua  Tisdale,  Samuel  Howland,  John  Simmons. 

No  record. 

Job  Winslow,  John  Hathaway,  William  Makepeace. 

Job  Winslow,  Josiah  Winslow,  Robert  Durfee. 

Job  Winslow,  Joshua  Tisdale,  Thomas  Terry. 

Josiah  Winslow,  Joshua  Tisdale,  Nicholas  Morey. 

Job  Winslow,  John  Hathaway,  John  Terry. 

Josiah  Winslow,  Thomas  Thurston,  John  Terry. 

John  Hathaway,  Thomas  Thurston,  John  Terry. 

Josiah  Winslow,  Ralph  Earl,  William  Winslow. 

Job  Winslow,  Ralph  Earl,  Joseph  Reed. 

Jonathan  Dodson,  Thomas  Terry,  Joseph  Reed. 

Josiah  Winslow,  Thomas  Terry,  William  Winslow. 

Jonathan  Dodson,  Joseph  Borden,  George  Winslow. 

No  record. 

Capt.  Constant  Church,  Wm.  Winslow,  Jos.  Brightman. 

Robert  Durfee,  Thomas  Thurston,  Joseph  Brightman. 

Thomas  Terry,  Joseph  Reed,  Samuel  Tisdale. 

George  Winslow,  Nicholas  Morey,  Thomas  Gage. 

Walter  Chase,  John  Hathaway,  Isaac  Hathaway. 

Capt.  Josiah  Winslow,  Capt.  Chas.  Church,  Thos.  Thurston. 

Ebenezer  Hathaway,  Capt.  Chas.  Church,  Jona.  Dodson. 

Samuel  Valentine,  Capt.  Chas.  Church,  David  Cudworth. 

Thomas  Terry,  Esq.,  Jacob  Hathaway,  Samuel  Forman. 

Walter  Chase,  Jacob  Hathaway,  Geo.  Winslow,  Benj  Chase. 

No  record. 

Thomas  Terry,  Jacob  Hathaway,  Samuel  Forman. 

No  record. 

Thomas  Terry,  Jacob  Hathaway,  Samuel  Forman. 
Thomas  Terry,  Jacob  Hathaway,  Samuel  Forman. 
Barnabas  Tisdale,  Ambrose  Barnaby,  Steven  Chase. 
Barnabas  Tisdale,  John  Winslow,  Abiel  Terry. 
Samuel  Tisdale,  James  Chase,  Steven  Chase. 
John  Winslow,  James  Chase,  Steven  Chase. 
John  Winslow,  Samuel  Valentine,  Abiel  Terry. 
Steven  Chase,  George  Chase,  Abiel  Terry. 

,  George  Chase,  Abiel  Terry. 

Ambrose  Barnaby,  Joshua  Boomer,  Abiel  Terry. 
144 


AMT. 
RAISED. 


$100.00 


66.67 


333.33 


333.33 
456.50 


266  67 


ASSEvSSORvS  OF   frep:t(avx 


Ambrose  Barnaby,  Joshua  Boomer,  Abiel  Terry. 
Ambrose  Barnaby,  Capt.  Geo.  Brightman,  Abiel  Terry. 
Thomas  Durfee  2nd,  Abraham  Burden,  James  Chase. 
No  record. 

Thomas  Durfee  2nd,  Nathan  Simmons,  Philip  Hathaway. 
Thomas  Durfee  2nd,  Nathan  Simmons,  Philip  Hathaway. 
Thomas  Durfee  2nd,  Nathan  Simmons,  Abiel  Terry. 
Thomas  Durfee  2nd,  James  Winslow,  Abiel  Terry. 
Thomas  Durfee  2nd,  Nathan  Simmons,  Philip  Hathaway. 
Thomas  Durfee  2nd,  Nathan  Simmons,  Philip  Hathaway. 
Thomas  Durfee  2nd,  Nathan  Simmons,  Philip  Hathaway. 
Thomas  Durfee  2nd,  Nathan  Simmons,  Philip  Hathaway. 
Thomas  Durfee  2nd,  Nathan  Simmons,  Philip  Hathaway. 
Thomas  Durfee  2nd,  Abraham  Burden,  Thos.  Gilbert,  Esq. 
Thomas  Durfee  2nd,  Jael  Hathaway,  Thos.  Gilbert,  Esq. 
Thomas  Durfee  2nd,  Jael  Hathaway,  Thos.  Gilbert,  Esq. 
Thomas  Durfee  2nd,  Jael  Hathaway,  George  Chase. 
Stephen  Burden,  George  Winslow,  Samuel  Barnaby. 
Stephen  Burden,  George  Chase,  Samuel  Barnaby. 
Elisha  Parker,  George  Chase,  Samuel  Barnaby. 
Joshua  Hathaway,  Thomas  White,  Samuel  Barnaby. 
George  Winslow,  Thomas  White. 

Nathaniel  Morton  8rd,  George  Winslow,  Samuel  Barnaby. 
Nathaniel  Morton  8rd,  George  Winslow,  Samuel  Barnaby. 
Nathaniel  Morton  8rd,  Benjamin  Evans,  Samuel  Barnaby. 
Peter  Crapo,  Benjamin  Mason,  Philip  Hathaway,  Jr. 
Nathaniel  Morton  3rd,  Philip  Hathaway,  Samuel  Barnaby. 
Nathaniel  Morton  Brd,  Philip  Hathaway,  Samuel  Barnaby. 
Nathaniel  Morton  8id,  Benjamin  Evans,  Samuel  Durfee. 
Nathaniel  Morton  3rd.  Benjamin  Evans,  Benjamin  Durfee. 
86    Nathaniel  Morton  3rd,  Joshua  Brett,  Benjamin  Durfee. 
Nathaniel  Morton  8rd,  Benjamin  Weaver,  Benj.  Durfee. 
Nathaniel  Morton  3rd,  Ephraim  Winslow,  Benj.  Durfee. 
Nathaniel  Morion  3rd,  Ephraim  Winslow,  Benj.  Durfee. 
Nathaniel  Morton  8rd,  Ephraim  Winslow,  Benj.  Durfee. 
Philip  Rounseville,  Ephraim  Winslow,  Benj.  Durfee. 
Nathaniel  Morton,  Ephraim  Winslow,  Benj.  Durfee. 
Nathaniel  Morton,  Ephraim  Winslow,  Pardon  DavoU. 
Nathaniel  Morton,  Ephraim  Winslow,  Jonathan  Reed. 


1755 
1756 
1757 

1758 

17511 

1760 

1761 

1762 

1763 

1764 

1765 

1766 

1767 

1768 

176!l 

1770 

1771 

1772 

1773 

1774 

1775 

1776 

1777 

1778 

1779 

1780 

1781 

1782 

1783 

1784 

1785-' 

1787 

1788 

1789 

1790 

1791 

1792 

1793 

1794 

1795 

1796 

1797 


Nathaniel  Morton,  Jr.,  Benjamin  Reed,  Benjamin  Durfee, 

Nath'l  Morton,  Jr  ,  Ephraim  Winslow,  Luther  Winslow. 

145 


AMT. 

R.AISEl). 

$118  00 

lOO.UO 

166.67 
133  33 

133.83 
166.67 
250.00 


260.00 
266  67 
233  33 
200.00 
250  00 
300  00 
833.83 
400.00 
833.33 
833.38 
833.33 


666.67 

1231.12 
500.00 

1000  00 

500.00 
500.00 
.500.00 

500.  OO 

666.67 

1200  00 

*1200.00 

f2.50O.O0 


AvSSESSORS   OF    FREETOWN. 


1798 
1799 

1800 

1801 

1802 

1803 

1804 

1805 

1806 

1807 

1808 

1809 

1810 

1811 

1812 

1818 

1814 

1815 

1816 

1817 

1818 

1819 

1820 

1821 

1822 

1828 

1824 

1825-' 

1827 

1828 

1829 

1880 

1881 

1832 

1833 

1834 

1835 

1836 

1837 

1838 

1839 

1840 

1841 


26 


Nath'l  Morton,  Jr.,  Eph.  AVinslow,  Esq.,  Thomas  Borden. 

Nath'l  Morton,  Jr.,  Eph.  Winslow,  Esq.,  Benj.  Durfee. 

Nath'l  Morton,  Jr.,  Eph.  Winslow,  Esq.,  Benj.  Durfee. 

Nath'l  Morton,  Jr.,  Eph.  Winslow,  Esq.,  Charles  Durfee. 

Nath'l  Morton,  Jr.,  Eph.  Winslow,  Esq  ,  Thomas  Borden. 

Nath'l  Morton,  Jr.,  Col.  Benj. Weaver,  Jael  Hathaway  2nd. 

Nath'l  Morton,  Jr.,  Daniel  Douglas,  Joli  Terry. 

Job  Morton,  Charles  Strange,  Job  Terry. 

Job  Morton,  Charles  Strange,  John  Terry. 

Job  Morton,  Col.  Benjamin  Weaver,  Benjamin  Doggett. 

Job  Morton,  Joseph  E.  Reed,  Kempton  Burbank. 

Job  Morton,  Gardner  Weaver,  Charles  Strange. 

Job  Morton,  John  Terry,  Charles  Strange. 

Job  Morton,  Ambrose  Barnaby,  Charles  vStrange. 

Job  Morton,  Esq.,  Edmund  Hathaway,  Charles  Strange. 

Job  Morton,  Esq  ,  Edmund  Hathaway,  Charles  Strange. 

Job  Morton,  Esq.,  John  Terry,  Charles  Strange. 

Job  Morton,  Esq.,  Col.  Benj.  Weaver,  Hercules  Cushman 

Job  Morton,  Esq., ,  Robert  Porter. 

Job  Morton,  Esq.,  Silas  Terry,  Robert  Porter. 
Job  Morton,  Esq  ,  Silas  Terry,  Col.  Benj.  AVeaver. 
Job  Morton,  Esq.,  Alden  Hatheway,  Robert  Porter. 
Job  Morton,  E.sq.,  Alden  Hatheway,  Robert  Porter. 
Job  Morton,  Esq.,  Robert  Porter,  Ephraim  Merrick. 

Robert  Porter,  Stephen  Barnaby. 

John  H.  Peirce,  Stephen  Barnaby. 

Ephraim  Merrick,  Stephen  Barnaby. 

Azariah  Shove,  Stephen  Barnaby. 

George  Pickens,  Stephen  Barnaby. 
Abram  Ashley,  John  Hathaway,  Lot  Strange. 
Job  Morton,  Esq.,  John  Hathaway,  Lot  Strange. 
Job  Morton,  Esq.,  Malachi  Howland,  Philip  P.  Hathaway. 
Job  Morton,  Esq.,  Malachi  Howland,  Philip  P.  Hathaway 
Job  Morton,  Esq  ,  Malachi  Howland,  Stephen  Barnaby. 
Calvin  Thomas,  Malachi  Howland,  John  Hathaway. 
Job  Morton,  (xeorge  Curamings,  Allen  Chase. 
Calvin  Thomas,  Lynde  Valentine,  Joseph  B.  Weaver. 
Charles  A.  Morton,  George  Cummings,  Job  Peirce. 
Charles  A.  Morton,  George  Cummings,  S.  S.  Payne. 
Charles  A.  Morton,  Joseph  Cudworth,  S.  S.  Payne. 
Charles  A.  Morton,  Joseph  Cudworth,  John  Winslow,  Jr. 
Charles  A.  Morton,  Joseph  Cudworth,  John  WinsU)w,  Jr. 
Charles  A.  Morton,  Joseph  Cudworth,  John  Winslow,  Jr. 

146 


Job  Morton,  Esq., 
Job  Morton,  Esq., 
Job  Morton,  Esq., 
Job  Morton,  Esq., 
Job  Morton,  Esq., 


AMT. 

RAISED. 

t $3733.38 
3533.33 
3533  38 
3533.88 
8533.88 
2850.00 
1800.00 
2100.00 
1200.00 
1500.00 
2200  00 
1900.00 
1458.00 
115S.0() 

1200.00 
1500.00 

1200.00 

2600  00 
1000.00 
1500.00 
3000  00 
3000.00 
2000.00 


2000.00 
3200.00 
3600  00 
2500.00 
2800.00 
2500.00 
1000.00 
2000.00 
2000.00 
1500.00 
2700.00 
2800.00 
8100.00 
3150.00 


ASSESSORS    OF    FREETOWN. 


1S42 
1S-U3 

1844 
1845 
1840 
1847 
1848 
1849 
1850 
1851 
1852 
1853 
1854 
1855 
1856 
1857 
1858 
1859 
1860 
1861 
1862 
1863 
1864 
1S65 
1866 
1867 
1868 
1869 
1870 
1871 
1872 
1873 
1874 
1875 
1876 
1877 
1878 
1879 
1880 
1881 
1882 
1883 
1884 


Chas.  A.  Morton,  Jos.  Cudworth,  Elnathan  P.  Hatheway. 
Chas.  A.  Morton,  Jos.  Cudworth,  Elnathan  P.  Hatheway. 
Philip  P.  Hathaway,  Jos.  Cudworth,  Elnat'n  P.  Hatheway. 
L.  R.  Mason,  Jos.  Cudworth,  Elnathan  P.  Hatheway. 
Abishai  Chase,  Joseph  Cudworth,  Elnathan  P.  Hatheway, 
Reuel  Washburn,  Lynde  Valentine,  Lot  Strange. 
Reuel  Washburn,  Lynde  Valentiue,  Lot  Strange. 
Reuel  Washburn,  Lynde  Valentine,  Lot  Strange. 
Reuel  Washburn,  Philip  J.  Tripp,  Lot  Strange. 
Reuel  AVashburn,  Philip  J.  Tripp,  Alden  Hatheway. 
Reuel  Washburn,  Philip  J.  Tripp,  Alden  Hatheway. 
Reuel  Washburn,  Philip  J.  Tripp,  Alden  Hatheway. 
Thomas  S   Hathaway,  Philip  H.  Evans,  Paul  Lawrence. 
Lynde  Valentine,  Silas  P.  Richmond,  Reuel  Washburn. 
Amb.  W.  Hathaway,  Silas  P.  Richmond,  Cornelius  Chace. 
Amb.  W.  Hathaway,  Thos.  G.  Nichols,  Reuel  Washburn. 
Philip  J.  Tripp,  Thos.  G.  Nichols,  James  Ashley." 
Silas  P.  Richmond,  Sylvester  Briggs,  James  H.  Snow. 
Silas  P.  Richmond,  Sylvester  Briggs,  James  H.  Snow. 
George  W.  Hall,  Sylvester  Briggs,  Harrison  L.  Allen. 
George  W.  Hall,  Sylvester  Briggs,  Harrison  L.  Allen. 
George  W.  Hall,  Ambrose  W.  Hathaway,  James  H.  Snow- 
George  W.  Hall,  Thomas  Leeburn,  Reuel  Washburn 
George  W.  Hall,  Sylvester  Briggs,  Reuel  Washburn. 
S.  P.  Richmond,  Manasseh  H.  Terry,  James  H.  Snow. 
S.  P.  Richmond,  Manasseh  H.  Terry,  James  H.  Snow. 
Chester  W.  Briggs,  Manasseh  S.  Terry,  James  H.  Snow. 
Chester  W.  Briggs,  Manasseh  S.  Terry,  James  H.  Snow. 
Chester  W.  Briggs,  M.  S.  Terry,  Orsmond  F.  Braley. 
Chester  W.  Briggs,  M.  S.  Terry,  Joseph  White. 
George  W.  Hall,  M.  S.  Terry,  Joseph  White. 
George  W.  Hall,  :\I.  S.  Terry,  Cornelius  Chace. 
George  W.  Hall,  M.  S.  Terry,  Jonathan  R.  Gurney. 
(xeorge  W.  Hall,  M.  S.  Terry,  Jonathan  R.  Gurney. 
George  W.  Hall,  J.  Henry  Peirce,  Hudson  Winslow. 
George  W.  Hall,  J.  Henry  Peirce,  J.  R.  Gurney. 
George  W.  Hall,  J.  Henry  Peirce,  J.  R.  Gurney. 
George  W.  Hall,  J.  Henry  Peirce,  Orsmond  F.  Braley. 
William  M.  Carnoe,  E.  W.  Peirce,  Charles  Braley. 
(ieorge  W.  Hall,  J.  Henry  Peirce,  Marcus  M.  Rounseville. 
George  W.  Hall,  Henry  B.  Payne,  Marcus  M.  Rounseville. 
George  W.  Hall,  J.  Henry  Peirce,  Charles  E.  Chace. 
Philip  H.  Evans,  J    Henry  Peirce,  Job  F.  Lucas. 

147 


AMT. 
RAISED. 

$3000.00 

3500.00 
2800.00 
2500.00 
3300.00 
3600.00 
2950.00 
3000.00 
2500.00 
3500.00 
3500.00 
3500.00 
4000.00 
4200.00 
4200.00 
5100.00 
4200.00 
4200.00 
5200.00 
4700.00 
4700  00 
7000.00 
7000.00 
6000.00 
6000.00 
7500.00 
6500.00 
7000.00 
6000  00 
8000.00 
4500.00 
6000.00 
6000. 0(» 
4000  0(» 
3000.00 
3000.00 
3000.00 
3000.00 
3000.00 
3000  00 
3500  00 
3500.00 
3500.00 


ASSEvSSORS    OF    FREETOWN. 


1885 
1886 
1887 
1888 
1889 
1890 
1891 
1892 
1893 
1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1S99 
1900 
1901 
1902 


George  W.  Hall,  Joseph  W.  Winslow,  Job  F.  Lucas. 
George  W.  Hall,  Joseph  W.  Winslow,  J.  R.  Gurney. 
George  W.  Hall,  Joseph  W.  Winslow,  Charles  Bra'ey. 
Palo  A.  Peirce,  Joseph  W.  Winslow,  Frank  H.  Ashley. 
Palo  A.  Peirce,  Joseph  W.  Winslow,  Alden  B    Lucas. 
Palo  A.  Peirce,  Joseph  W.  W^inslow,  Alden  B.  Lucas. 
Palo  A   Peirce,  Joseph  W.  Winslow,  Alden  B.  Lucas. 
Palo  A.  Peirce,  Joseph  W.  Winslow,  Alden  B.  Lucas. 
Palo  A.  Peirce,  Joseph  W.  Winslow,  Alden  B.  Lucas. 
Palo  A.  Peirce,  Joseph  W.  Winslow,  Alden  B.  Lucas. 
Gilbert  M.  Nichols,  Joseph  W.  Winslow,  Alden  B    Lucas. 
Gilbert  M.  Nichols,  Henry  Carnoe,  George  A    Braley. 
Gilbert  M.  Nichols,  Anthony  D  Hathaway,  Geo.  A.  Braley. 
Gilbert  M.  Nichols,  Anthony  D.  Hathaway,  Geo.  A  Braley. 
Gilbert  M.  Nichols,  Anthony  D.  Hathaway,  Job  F.  Lucas. 
Gilbert  M.  Nichols,  Anthony  D.  Hathaway,  Geo.  H.  Gibbs. 
Gilbert  M.  Nichols,  Anthony  D.  Hathaway,  Chas.  Braley. 
Gilbert  M.  Nichols,  Anthony  D.  Hathaway,  Chas.  Braley. 


AMT. 
R.AISEI). 


$4800.00 
5000.00 
6000.00 
6000.00 
6000.00 
6000.00 
6000  00 
5000.00 
6000.00 
6000.00 
7000.00 
7000.00 
6000.00 
7500.00 
8500.00 
9500.00 
9000  00 
900(1.00 


Money,     f  Highway  Tax,     X  Amount  raised  including  Highway  Tax. 


PHILIP    H.    EVANS. 

148 


SCHOOL    COMMITTEE    OF    FREETOWN. 


1795 

1S04 
1814 

1827 

1828 

1829 

1830 
1831 

1832 

1833 

1834 

1835 

ls3f) 
1  S3  7-' 38 

183!) 

1840 
1841 
1842 
1843 

1844 

IS  45 

1S4(3 

1847 

18  IS 

ls4>.)-'50 

1851 

1852-'5S 

1S54 

1855 
1850 


COMMITTHE. 


Job  Morton,  Col.  Benjamin  Weaver,  John  Turner,  M.  D. 

Washington  Hathaway,  Col.  Benj.  Weaver,  Wm.  Rounseville. 

Maj.  Joseph  B.  Weaver,  H.  Cushman,  R.  Strobridge,  Wm.  Rounse- 
ville, Job  Morton. 

Thomas  Bump,  H.  Cushman,  Rufus  Bacon,  Azariah  Shove, 
Job  Morton. 

E.  P.  Hatheway,  Thomas  Bump,  Lot  Strange,  J.  B.  Weaver. 
J.  Taylor,  John  T.  Lawton,  Job  Morton. 

J.  Gurney,  Thomas  Bump,  Lot  Strange,  P.  Hatheway,  J.  Taylor. 
Wm.  Strobridge,  Job  Morton. 

J.  Gurney,  Thos.  Bump,  Stetson  Raymond,  J.  Taylor,  Job  Morton. 

J.  Gurney,  Thomas  Bump,  S.  Raymond.  E.  P.  Hatheway,  J.  Tay- 
lor, Ezra  Wilkinson,  Job  Morton. 

P.  Hathaway,  Thomas  Bump,  S.  Raymond,  Elkanah  Doggett, 
J.  Taylor,  Job  Morton. 

P.  Hathaway,  Thomas  Bump,  S.  Raymond,  E.  P.  Hatheway, 
J.  Gurney,  Wm.  Coe,  Job  Morton. 

,  Thomas  Bump,  S.  Raymond,  ,  J.  Gurney,  Ebenezer 

Babbitt,  Job  Morton. 

Lot  Strange,  Thomas  Bump,  S.  Raymond,  E.  P.  Hatheway. 
,  A.  Jones,  . 

Thomas  Bump,  S.  Raymond,  E.  P.  Hatheway,  J.  Gurney,  A.  Jones. 

Benj.  Crane,  G.  H.  Hathawav,  Chas.  A.  Morton. 

Benj.  Crane,  James  Gurney,  E.  W.  Robinson,  A.  H  itheway,  Jr., 
Chas.  A.  Morton. 

E.  P.  Hatheway,  E.  W.  Robinson,  Chas.  A.  Morton. 

E.  P.  Hatheway,  Thomas  Bump,  Chas.  A.  Morton. 

J.  Taylor,  J.  B.  Weaver,  Chas.  A.  Morton. 

Benj.  Crane,  E.  W.  Robinson,  Chas.  A.  Morton. 

Guilford  H.  Hathaway,  Asa  Clark,  David  Clark. 

Guilford  H.  Hathaway,  Chas  A.  Morton.  Jos.  B.  Weaver. 

John  S.  Maxwell,  Chas.  A.  Morton,  Jos.  B.  Weaver. 

John  S.  Maxwell,  P.  J.  Tripp,  Jos.  B.  Weaver. 

Let  Strange,  P.  J.  Tripp,  J.  B.  Wea,ver. 

Lot  Strange,  Philip  J.  Tripp,  Alden  Hatheway,  Jr. 

Nicholas  Hatheway,  Wm.  B.  Staples,  Robt.  P.  Strobridge. 

Thomas  G.  Nichols,  Philip  J.  Tripp,  Reuel  Washburn. 

Thomas  G.  Nichols,  Thomas  Bump,  Philip  J.  Tripp,  Thomas  S. 
Hathaway,  Chas.  A.  Morton. 

Thomas  G.  Nichols,  S.  P.  Richmond,  Reuel  Washburn. 

A.  (t.  Commgs,  E.  W.  Peirce,  Reuel  Washburn. 


140 


SCHOOL    COM^IITTEE    OF    FREETOWN. 


YEAR. 

1857 

1858 

1859 

1860- 

61 

1862 

1863- 

'64 

1865 

1866 

1867- 

'72 

1873 

1874 

1875 

1876 

1877- 

'78 

1879 

1880 

1881 

1882 

1883 

1884- 

'85 

1886 

1887- 

'88 

1889- 

'90 

1891- 

'93 

1894- 

'95 

1896- 

•97 

1898 

1899 

1900- 

'02 

COMMITTEE. 


Thomas  G.  Nichols,  E.  W.  Peirce,  Reuel  Washburn. 

Thos.  G.  Nichols  (3  yrs. ),  Philip  J.  Tripp  (2  yrs.),  Geo.  Tyler  (1  yr.). 

Thomas  G.  Nichols,  Reuel  Washburn.  Nathan  T.  Strange. 

Abel  G.  Duncan,  Reuel  Washburn,  E.  W.  Peirce. 

Abel  G.  Duncan,  Granville  S.  Allen,  John  M.  Deane. 

Abel  G.  Duncan,  Granville  S.  Allen,  Sylvester  Briggs. 

Abel  G.  Duncan,  Reuel  Washburn,  Sylvester  Briggs. 

Thomas  G.  Nichols,  Reuel  Washburn,  Abel  G.  Duncan. 

Thomas  G.  Nichols,  Reuel  Washburn,  Sylvester  R.  Briggs. 

Thomas  G.  Nichols,  Reuel  Washburn,  Noah  Hatheway. 

Thomas  G.  Nichols,  H.  E.  Tinkham,  Hudson  Winslow. 

John  W.  Pickens,  H.  E.  Tinkham,  Hudson  Winslow. 

John  W.  Pickens,  Hiram  B.  W^etherell,  Hudson  Winslow. 

George  B.  Cudworth,  Hiram  B.  Wetherell,  J.  R.  Gurney. 

George  B.  Cudworth,  Noah  Hatheway,  J.  R.  Gurney. 

George  B.  Cudworth,  Noah  Hatheway,  Harrison  L.  Allen. 

John  W.  Pickens,  Noah  Hatheway,  Harrison  L.  Allen. 

John  W.  Pickens,  Gilbert  M.  Nichols,  Harrison  L.  Allen. 

John  W.  Pickens,  Gilbert  M.  Nichols,  Charles  S.  Chace. 

George  B.  Walker,  Gilbert  M.  Nichols,  Charles  S.  Chace. 

George  B.  Walker,  Gilbert  M.  Nichols,  James  G.  Ashley. 

George  B.  Cudworth,  Frank  A.  Barrows,  James  G.  Ashley. 

George  B.  Cudworth,  Frank  A.  Barrows,  Albert  F.  White. 

E.  Florence  Hathaway,  Frank  A.  Barrows,  Albert  F.  White. 

Wmslow  Nichols,  Frank  A.  Barrows,  Albert  F.  White. 

Winslow  Nichols,  Palo  A.  Peirce,  Albert  F.  White. 

Winslow  Nichols,  Earl  F.  Pearce,  Elijah  D.  Chace. 

Winslow  Nichols,  Viola  N.  Burns,  Elijah  D.  Chace. 

AVinslow  Nichols,  Viola  X.  Burns,  Eliiah  D.  Chace. 


150 


REUEL  WASHBURN. 


GEORGE  W.  HALL. 


CAPT  GRANVILLE  S,  ALLEN. 


AL  DEN  H  ATHEWAY,  JR. 


lol 


LIST    OF    POSTMASTERvS. 


There  are  two  post  offices  in  Freetown,  one  at  Assonet 
Village,  and  one  at  East  Freetown. 

The  names  of  Postmasters  at  the  office  in  Assonet  and 
terms  of  service  are  as  follows : 

Stephen  B.  Pickens lSll-17 

Robert  Strobridge 1817-22 

George  Pickens 1822-41 

Guilford  H.  Hathaway 1841-45 

Joshua  Shove 1845-72 

Daniel  L.  Johnson 1872-82 

Elbert  E.  Winslow 1882-86 

Elnathan  P.  Hatheway 1886-89 

C.  Isabel  Hatheway 1889-97 

M.  Florence  Dt  an   1897- 

The  official  name  of  this  post  office  was  changed  from 
Freetown  to  Assonet  April  1.  lOol. 

Rural  Delivery  was  established  at  this  office  iVpril  1 , 
11M)2.     vStephen  A.  Hatheway,  Carrier. 

The  names  of  Postmasters  at  East  Freetown  and  terms 
of  service  are  as  follows : 

Amos  Braley 1811-16 

Abraham  Braley 1816-22 

The  office  was  discontinued  in  or  about  1822  and  reestab- 
lished in  1852. 

Reuel  Washburn 1852-86 

David  Lawrence 1886-87 

Rachel  E.  Lawrence 1887- 

Rural  iJelivery  for  East  Freetown  was  established  from 
Clifford  post  office  within  the  limits  of  New  Bedford  in  19(>2. 
James  Webb,  Carrier. 

Money  orders  are  issued  at  both  Assonet  and  East  Free- 
town post  offices. 


ir)2 


REPRESENTATWES  TO  GENERAL  COURT. 


YEAR. 

NAMES. 

YEAR. 

NAMES. 

1683 

1775 

Thomas  Durfee, 

16N4 

Joseph  Bailey.                              | 

Joshua  Hathaway. 

1685 

Joseph  Bailey. 

1776-77 

Thomas  Durfee  2nd. 

1686 

Job  Winslow. 

1778 

Thomas  Durfee  2nd. 

1689 

Lt.  Thos.  Terry. 

Nathaniel  Morton. 

1690 

Samuel  Gardiner. 

1779 

Nathaniel  Morton. 

1692 

Job  Winslow,  S.  Gardiner. 

1780-81 

John  Hathaway. 

1693 

Jahleel  Brenton. 

1782 

Joshua  Howard  Brett. 

lT02-'05 

Voted  not  to  send. 

1783 

Dr.  Jesse  Bullock. 

1706-09 

None.                                             1 

1784 

Capt.  Levi  Rounseville. 

1713 

Nicholas  Morey. 

1785 

Nathaniel  Morton  3rd. 

1714-15 

1786 

Lt.  Nathan  Dean. 

1716 

Robert  Durfee. 

1787-'88 

Ambrose  Barnaby. 

1717 

Capt.  Jael  Hathaway. 

1718 

None.                                             j 

1789 

None. 

1719-20 

Samuel  Forman. 

1790 

Hon.  Thos.  Durfee,  Esq. 

1721 

Nicholas  Morey. 

1791-93 

Ephraim    Winslow. 

1722 

Thomas  Gage. 

1794 

None. 

l723-'24 

John  Reed. 

1795-97 

Ephraim  Winslow. 

1725 

Thomas  Terry. 

1798-'99 

Nathaniel  Morton  Jr.,  Esq, 

1726-27 

Thomas  Gage. 

1800 

Nathaniel  Morton  Jr.,  Esq. 

1728 

Samuel  Valentine. 

1801 

Simeon  Borden. 

1729-'30 

Lt.  Joseph  Reed. 

1802-03 

Nathaniel  Morton,  Esq.f 

1731-33 

None. 

1804-'()7 

William  Rounseville. 

1734-35 

Henry  Tisdale.* 

1808 

William  Rounseville. 

1736 

Thomas  Gage. 

Ebenezer  Peirce,  Esq. 

1737-43 

Henrv  Tisdale. 

1809 

William  Rounseville. 

1 744-' 45 

None. 

Nathaniel  Morton.  Esq. 

1746-'49 

John  Winslow. 

1810-11 

William  Rounseville. 

1750 

Samuel  Valentine. 

Stephen  B.  Pickens. 

1751-53 

1812-13 

William  Rounseville. 

1754 

John  Winslow. 

Robert  Strobridge. 

1755-56 

1814 

Robert  vStrobridge. 

1757 

None. 

Job  Morton. 

1758 

1815 

Robert  Strobridge. 

1759 

None. 

Job  Morton,  Esq 

1760-'64 

Col.  Thos.  Gilbert,  E.sq. 

1816-19 

Job  Morton. 

1765-70 

Thomas  Durlee  2nd. 

Hercules  Cushman,  Esq. 

1771-73 

Col.  Thos.  Gilbert,  Esq. 

1820 

Nathaniel  Morton. 

1774 

Col. Thos  Gilbert, Esq.   May. 

1821 

Hercules  Cushman. 

Thos   Durfee  2nd.   Sept.  26. 

1822 

Col.  Hercules  Cushman. 

*State  allowed  six  shillings  per  day  and  town  voted  twi 
f Twenty-five  hundred  inhabitants. 

153 


-hillings 


REPRESENTATIVES  TO  GENERAL  COURT. 


YEAR. 

NAM£S. 

YEAR. 

NAMES. 

1823 

Job  Morton. 

1842 

Joseph  B.  Weaver,  Esq. 

Hercules  Ciishman. 

1843 

Dr.  Bradford  Braley. 

1824 

Job  Morton,  Esq. 

1844 

John  Winslow,  Jr. 

Ebenezer  Peirce,  Esq. 

1845 

Benjamin  Dean. 

1825 

Job  Morton,  Esq. 

1846 

Edmund  D.  Hathawav. 

Elnathan  P.  Hatheway. 

1847 

William  B.  Staples. 

Job  Morton,  Esq. 

1848 

Joseph  Staples. 

182() 

Azariah  Shove. 

1849 

John  Dean. 

Hercules  Cushman. 

1850 

William  Hall. 

1827 

Job  Morton,  Esq. 

1851 

Dr.  Bradford  Braley. 

Gilbert  Rounseville. 

1853 

None. 

1828 

Thomas  Bump. 

1853 

Benjamin  Evans. 

Ehiathan  P.  Hatheway. 

1.S54 

Capt.  Job  Terry. 

1S2!) 

Thomas  Bump. 

1855 

Merchant  White. 

John  T.  Lawton. 

1856 

Ambrose  W.  Hathaway. 

1880 

Josiah  Durfee,  Jr.j: 

1857 

Dr.  Thomas  G.  Nichols. 

Ephraim  At  wood. 

1859 

Capt.  Marcus  M. Rounseville. 

188] 

Ephraim  Atwood. 

1861 

John  D.  Wilson. 

1832-'34 

George  Pickens. 
Elnathan  P.  Hatliewav. 

1S66 

1872 

Dr.  Thc^mas  G.  Nichols. 
William  Dean 

1835 

George  Pickens. 

1875 

Washington  Read. 

Capt.  Malachi  Howland 

1876 

Granville  S.  Allen. 

1836 

Capt.  Calvin  Thomas. 

1880 

John  W    Marble. 

Guilford  H.  Hathawav. 

1.S84 

Henry  H.  Winslow. 

1.S37 

Charles  A.  Morton. 

1887 

Arthur  G.  Rounseville. 

Alden  Hatheway,  Jr. 

1891 

Col.  Silas  P.  Richmond. 

1838 

Alden  Hatheway,  Ir. 

1.S95 

Nathan  R    Davis. 

1839 

None. 

1901 

Handel  E.  Washburn. 

1S40 

Capt.  Malachi  Howland. 

1902 

Gilbert  M.  Nichols. 

1841 

Thomas  Evans. 

:};  Nineteen  hundred  inhabitants. 


154 


vSENATORS    FROM    FREETOWN. 


Thomas  Durfee IT — 

Nathaniel  Morton,  Esci     1S04-1808 

Elnathan  P.  Hatheway 1843 

Philip  J.  Tripp 187.") 


MEMBERS   OF   GOVERNOR'S   COUNCIL. 


Hon.  Thomas  Durfee,  Esq 179- 

Hon    Hercules  Cushman 18"26 

Capt.  Rufus  Bacon 18'27 


GOVERNOR. 


Marcus  Morton 1840,  ls4:; 


155 


i    -    m 

\ 

^^ 

f 

*''^  .j^^H 

J 

1^ 

^n 

"■>^^^w>^ 

*fc'  *«»;"'' 

w 

GOV,  MARCUS  MORTON, 


REV,  ALBERT  G,  MORTON, 


BIRTHPLACE  OF  GOV,  MARCUS  MORTON 


1  5(; 


The  HoxoRAHLK  ^Marcus  ^Morton,  LL.  D.,  third 
in  descent  from  "Major"  Nathaniel  Morton,  fr.,  of  East 
Freetown,  and  son  of  Nathaniel  Morton  3rd.,  and  his  wife, 
Mary  Carey,  (^f  Bridi^ewater,  was  born  February  lit,  iTS-t 
at  East  Freetown,  in  a  house  probably  built  bv  his  pater- 
nal grandfather.  He  was  graduated  from  Brown  Uni\'er- 
sitv  in  ls(i4,  studied  law  at  Litchfield,  Connecticut,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Taunton  in  ISO".  For  four 
years  he  represented  his  district  in  Congress  during  the 
presidency  of  Monroe,  and  took  part  in  the  discussion  on 
the  ]Miss<niri  Compromise.  He  held  numerous  offices  of 
trust  in  the  .State: — Clerk  of  the  State  Senate,  member  of 
the  State  Executive  Council,  Lieutenant-Governor,  and,  on 
the  death  of  Governor  Eustis  in  ls2o,  Acting-Governor. 
This  last  office  he  soon  resigned  on  being  appointed  Jus- 
tice of  the  .Supreme  Court,  a  position  which  he  held  for 
fifteen  years,  resigning  in  lSo!»  to  serve  as  Governor  of 
Alassachusetts.  He  was  elected  by  a  single  vote  over 
Edward  Everett — one  ballot  superscribed  "Maccus  ^Lat- 
toon"  being  counted  for  him.  He  held  this  position  twice 
again  during  his  lifetime.  In  his  campaigns  he  had  the 
support  of  many  of  the  anti-slavery  leaders.  In  ls:;i», 
Whittier,  writing  of  Everett  and  Morton,  said:  "  Of  the 
two,  I  prefer  ]\Iorton."  He  received  the  degree  of  LL.  D. 
from  Brown  in  Ls-2(3,  and  from  Harvard  in  Ls40.  He  died 
in  isBl  and  lies  buried  in  ]Mount  Pleasant  Cemeterv,  Taunton. 
His  residence  is  now  the  Morton  Hospital  of  Taunton. 

A  daughter,  Frances  Wood,  married  Mr.  George 
Henry  French  of  Andover,  and  their  daughter  Alice  is 
the  well  known  author  whose  pen-name  is  Gctave  Thanet. 

Ai.HKRT  G.  Morton,  second  son  of  Job  ]\Iorton,  born 
in  Lsn4,  was  a  widely  known  Elder  of  the  Christian 
denominaticm,  holding  pastorates  at  North  Dartmouth, 
Mansfield,  New  Bedford,  Providence,  and  Amesburv.  His 
ministry  extended  over  a  period  of  sixtv-four  vears.  dur- 
ing which  he  attended  five  hundred  funerals,  and  per- 
formed the  marriage  service  three  hundred  times.  He 
died  in  IM*'.)  and  is  buried  in  Lubec,  Maine. 

157 


The  Industries. 


WHEN  the  early  pio- 
neer started  out 
into  the  wilderness  to 
seek  a  place  for  his 
home,  the  great  desid- 
eratum to  his  mind  was 
a  never  -  failing-  spring- 
near  which  to  locate.  If 
in  addition  to  this  he 
EAST  BRIDGE  w;^g  fortunatc  enough  to 

find  a  stream  of  water  included  within  his  land  which 
could  be  utilized  to  furnish  mill  power,  his  prosperity  and 
influence  was  increased  far  beyond  his  less  fortunate 
neighbors.  Although  Freetown  had  only  small  streams 
flowing  through  its  territory,  yet  from  the  great  differ- 
ence in  altitude  of  the  source  and  mouth  a  great  many 
dams  could  be  built  along  their  courses.  On  Assonet 
River  above  the  village  are  remaining  ten  dams  within  a 
distance  of  about  six  miles,  in  all  stages  of  preservation. 
On  Mill  Brook  and  Terry  Brook  are  three  dams ;  while  on 
Fall  Brook  in  East  Freetown  remain  six  dams  to  show 
the  large  amount  of  business  carried  on  within  the  dis- 
tance of  two  and  one-half  miles.  The  greatest  number  of 
dams  were  constructed  for  the  use  of  saw-mills,  but  several 
furnished  power  to  grist  mills  and  iron  works.  The  dates 
of  the  construction  of  nearly  all  of  these  dams  have  been 
lost  and  can  only  be  approximated. 

The  first  dam  across  Assonet   River  was  probably  the 
one  near   Locust  vStreet,  where  now  remain  only  its  ruins. 

158 


It  was  built  in  or  about  the  year  KiOr*.  At  first  the  power 
was  used  for  a  saw  mill,  but  a  fulling-mill  was  subsequently 
added,  a  grist-mill  and  inachinery  for  carding  wool.  This 
mill  also  had  a  bolting  machine,  and  here  was  put  in  the 
first  machine  for  grinding  corn  and  cob  together,  about  <;(> 
years  ago.  On  the  west  side  of  the  dam  there  was  a  saw- 
mill owned  by  Gilbert,  Barnaby,  and  Kenelm  Winslow, 
which  has  not  been  iised  for  nearly  sixty  years.  They  were 
built  by  the  Winslow  family  and  remained  in  the  owner- 
ship of  that  family  until  1S9H. 

The  second,  which  is  now  known  as  Forge  dam,  was 
built  in  IToi'.  It  was  carried  away  by  a  freshet  and  re- 
built in  ITOo.  ()n  the  west  side  of  the  dam  a  grist  mill 
was  built,  and  was  run  by  members  of  the  Hatheway  fam- 
ily until  about  182o,  when  it  was  sold  to  Josiah  Winslow. 
About  l.s4r)  Mr.  Winslow  gave  up  the  grist  mill,  and  in 
company  with  Henry  Porter  put  in  machinery  for  making 
cut  nails.  David  M.  Anthony  and  Capt.  John  W.  ]\Iarble 
bought  the  mill  privilege  in  LS.So,  and  in  this  building 
Capt.  Alarble  set  up  a  shingle  mill  which  was  run  four  or 
five  years.  In  iS!*.?  J.  Henry  Peirce  began  sawing  all 
kinds  of  lumber  here,  and  at  the  present  time  is  doing  an 
extensive  business. 

June  1-t,  17<>4.  articles  of  agreement  were  signed  by 
James  Tisdale,  Sr.,  John  Paul,  Edward  Bobbet,  Abraham 
Hathaway.  Edward  Paul,  ]\Ialachi  Hollo  way,  James  Tis- 
dale, Jr.,  John  Spur,  John  Burt,  Joseph  Dean,  Nathaniel 
Holloway,  Timothy  Holloway,  Albert  Burt,  John  Wilbur, 
and  William  Phillips,  all  of  Taunton,  and  by  Josiah  Wins- 
low, Benjamin  Chase,  and  John  Hathaway,  of  Freetown, 
to  build  some  iron  works  on  the  land  of  Nathaniel  Wins- 
low of  Freetown.  The  iron  was  to  be  obtained  upon  land 
in  Taunton  called  the  "  Red  weed  land"  which  was  owned 
by  Abel  Burt.  The  company  was  to  pay  Abel  Burt  but 
two  shillings  per  ton  for  the  iron  as  it  lay  on  the  ground, 
until  they  had  paid  eighteen  pounds ;  then  Burt  was  to 
receive  three  shillings  per  ton,  even  if  others  who  owned 


iron  mines  engaged  to  sell  their  iron  at  a  lower  price. 
The  forge  was  built,  on  the  east  side  of  the  dam,  and 
remained  in  the  hands  of  the  company  until  lsi!<i,  when 
Thomas  Strobridge  bought  it  and  manufactured  scvthes, 
axes,  and  carpenters'  tools.  Then  John  Crane,  vSampson 
&  Nichols,  Weaver  &  Osborne,  succeeded  one  another 
there  in  the  manufacture  of  edged  tools  and  nails.  For  a 
time  Thomas  and  John  Thorpe  used  the  mill  for  washing 
waste.  Then  Crocker  Sc  Bassett  manufactured  nails.  It 
was  burned  about  is"-!-. 


SAW    MILL    AT    TISOALE'S    DAM 


The  third  dam  was  that  at  Assonet  Village,  built  about 
the  year  ITlO.  A  grist  mill  was  soon  set  up  on  one  side 
of  the  dam,  to  be  followed  later  by  a  saw-mill  on  the  oppo- 
site side.  "Indian  corn  has  probably  been  ground  here 
every  year  for  nearly  two  hundred  years  and  lumber  sawed 
for  more  than  a  century."  The  grist-mill  was  run  for 
about  forty  years  by  David  Babbitt,  who  was  stricken  down 
while  at  his  daily  labor  on  March   IS,  lixi-j,  aged  S5  years. 

1(50 


Still  higher  up  the  stream  than  the  forg-e  dam  and  a 
little  below  what  is  known  as  the  Rowland  saw-mill,  tradi- 
tion saith  that  Philip  Rounsevill  put  up  a  dam,  some  traces 
of  which  still  remain.  He  probably  erected  and  for  a  time 
operated  a  saw  mill  thereon.  The  fifth  dam  was  probably 
that  one  where  David  Terry  now  has  a  bleachery.  A 
grist  mill  was  built  on  the  north  side  of  the  dam  years 
before  the  knowledge  of  any  person  now  living  and  was 
taken  down  in  ls7'2  by  Capt.  Henry  H.  Winslow,  who 
then  built  the  mill  for  cleaning  waste.      On  the  south  side 


GRIST    MILL     AT    TISDALE'S    DAM 

Buiit    1710 


of  the  dam  were  a  trip-hammer  shop,  a  blacksmith  shop, 
and  one  for  making  cotton  batting.  It  was  owned  by 
Benjamin  Porter  and  son  Henry.  The  dam  was  carried 
away  by  a  fre.shet  February  l^s,  1857,  and  again  in  March, 
l.^SC).  In  lS4t>  the  mill  was  burned  and  after  being  rebuilt 
was  used  for  cleaning  waste. 

The  remains  of  a  dam  can  be  seen  at  the  present  time 
at  Slab  Bridge.      The  old  Howland  saw-mill,  the  date  of 

1(51 


construction  of  which  cannot  be  found,  has  1)een  operated 
until  very  recent  years  with  the  old  up-and-down  saw. 
The  dam  near  the  residence  of  the  late  Joseph  R.  Dunham 
is  probably  of  more  modern  construction,  and  the  mill  has 
been  used  of  late  years  by  Paul  Burns,  for  sawino-  box 
boards. 

The  dam  near  Maple  Tree  Bridge  was  begun  in  ls-2^) 
by  William  Haskins,  and  finished  in  is^T.  A  grist-mill 
was  erected  beside  it  the  next  year,  which  was  run  until 
1S{]5.  At  this  time  A.  W.  Peirce  and  Charles  S.  White 
put  in  machinery  for  sawing  lumber,  and  took  out  the 
grist-mill.  In  July,  1S72,  Julius  C.  Haskins  bought  the 
property.  vSince  l.sM,  John  T.  Haskins  has  owned  and 
run  the  mill. 

A  small  stream  known  as  Mill  Brook,  that  empties 
into  Assonet  River  through  Payne's  Cove,  came  into  earlv 
use  as  a  motive  power.  Near  the  head  oi  Payne's  Cove 
was  erected  a  dam  many  years  ago  on  which  was  operated 
a  saw  mill,  a  grist  mill,  and  afterwards  a  small  foundrv. 
Here  Edmund  B.  Lewis  had  a  bleachery  and  dye  house. 
The  Crystal  Spring  Bleachery,  built  in  ISSi!,  now  stands 
on  this  site. 

On  Terry  Brook  many  years  ago  was  erected  a  dam, 
and  here  was  probably  operated  a  saw-mill.  After  a  long- 
period  of  disuse,  in  ls-j|;)  a  cupola  furnace  was  erected 
thereon  and  was  run  by  Elkanah  Doggett  until  about  ls;u. 
Then  Gideon  P.  Hathaway  for  five  or  six  years  made 
threshing  machines  there.  The  building  was  then  used 
for  a  spooling  mill,  and  afterwards  John  Thorpe  carried 
on  the  waste-cleaning  business.  ]\lr.  Thorpe  was  the  first 
(jne  to  conduct  this  business  in  Freetown.  Finally  the 
mill  was  burned,  and  the  dam  was  removed  to  give  place 
to  a  reservoir  for  the  Crystal  Spring  Bleachery. 

At  East  Freetown,  Fall  Brook  has  furnished  power 
since  the  early  settlement.  Of  the  dam  at  the  village, 
where  a  saw-mill  owned  by  the  late  Capt.  Ct.  S.  Allen 
stands,    no   dates   connected   with    its  first   owners   can  be 

1&2 


found,  and  there  is  a  similar  laek  of  data  concerning  the 
dam  near  the  depot  now  utilized  by  ice  companies  from 
New  Bedford.  At  the  dam,  between  the  above  two,  where 
Lincoln  E.  Chase  now  has  a  saw-mill,  there  "was  erected 
in  or  near  the  vear  ITsi  a  blast  furnace  where  iron  ore  was 
not  only  smelted  but  also  manufactured  into  what  then 
went  under  the  name  of  hollow-ware.  The  original  pro- 
•jectors  of  this  enterprise  were  Capt.  Le\'i  Rounsevill  and 
Capt.  Abraham  ^Morton  of  East  Freetown ;  Capt.  Job 
Peirce  and  Joseph  Leonard  (•2d)  of  ^Sliddleborough,  and 
Seth  Keith  of  Bridgewater.  Capt.  Levi  Rounsevill,  Capt. 
Job  Peirce  and  Seth  Keith  owned  a  quarter  interest  each, 
and  Philip  Rounsevill,  Capt.  Abraham  ]Morton  and  Joseph 
Leonard  c^d)  owned  the  other  quarter  or  one-twelfth  part 
each.  Fuel  in  East  Freetown  was  then  abundant  and 
readilv  and  cheaply  obtained,  and  much  of  the  iron  ore 
was  taken  from  Assawamsett  Pond,  in  Middleborough.  The 
small  village  that  as  a  consequence  thus  grew  up  near  by 
came  naturally  to  be  called  the  ''Fnriiacc  Milage,"  or  '' Fur- 
jiacc  Xcighboyhood"  which  names  still  serve  to  designate 
the  locality  and  are  in  familiar  use,  although  the  furnace 
either  as  a  blast  or  cupola,  has  long  since  ceased  to  be  oper- 
ated. A  few  years  after  its  erection  this  furnace  came  to 
be  owned  almost  exclusively  by  members  of  the  Rounse- 
vill family  and  hence  came  to  be  called  the  "Rounsevill 
Furnace."  \\\  isU,  James  Alger  of  Bridgewater,  Gen. 
Cromwell  Washburn  of  Taunton,  and  Col.  Salmon  Fobes 
of  Bridgewater,  purchased  three-fourths  of  this  furnace, 
and  in  1814  James  Alger  bought  the  remaining  quarter, 
(j-en.  Washburn  at  the  same  time  disposing  of  his  to 
Alger  &  Fobes.  Nahum  Alger  of  Bridgewater,  and 
afterwards  of  Freetown,  became  agent  and  manager,  and 
the  firm  of  Alger  &  Fobes,  besides  carrving  on  the  fur- 
nace,  also  ran  two  saw-mills,  a  grist-mill,  a  blacksmith 
shop,  and  a  countrv  store,  thus  furnishing  employment 
for  some  fiftv  men.  In  Isls  the  propertv  changed  owners, 
being    principally,   if    not   whollv.    purchased    by   vSamuel 

]»;;3 


Slater,  David  Wilkinson  and  Charles  Dyer  of  Providence, 
and  Benjamin  Dyer  of  Cranston,  R.  I.  These  parties  took 
upon  themselves  the  name  of  "  Providence  Foundry  Com- 
pany," employing  Capt.  Calvin  Thomas,  of  Pembroke,  as 
superintendent,  who  also  became  part  owner.  The  old 
blast  furnace  was  then,  or  soon  after,  demolished,  and  its 
place  supplied  by  a  cupola  furnace.  Here  they  no  longer 
smelted  iron  ore,  taken  from  Assawamset  Pond  and  other 
places  adjacent,  but  instead  used  "pigs"  brought  from 
New  Jersev  to  Assonet  per  water  carriage,  and  from  thence 
transported  by  ox-teams  to  East  Freetown.  Succeeding 
the  furnace  business  at  this  water  privilege  was  a  sash- 
door- and  -  blind -factory,  that  has  not  been  in  operation 
for  several  years."'-  The  iron  railing  in  the  Arcade  at 
Providence  was  made  in  Freetown. 

Farther    up    the     river    is    another    dam    owned     by 
Jonathan    R.   Gurney,    where    there    is    a    saw-mill ;     and 
above  this   is    one    owned    by  the    heirs  of    Paul     Burns. 
The    last  mentioned     dam    was  erected   in   ISOS  by    Paul 
-  — ^^  jM.  Burns  of    Freetown, 

and  George  W.  Dean  of 
Taunton.  A  saw  -  mill 
was  erected  thereon  and 
for  many  years  an  ex- 
tensive business  was  car- 
ried on  under  the  man- 
agement of  Mr.  Burns, 
whose  death  occured  in 
1S.S(;.  In  isss  the  Geo. 
Dean  heirs  sold  their 
interest  in  the  property 
to  Paul  Burns,  Jr.,  who 
conducted  the  business 
for  several  years.  Re- 
cently, it  has  been  oper- 
ated bv  a  vounger  broth- 
er. William  B.  Burns. 


PAUL     WI.    BURNS. 


•Quoted  with  slight  ch  mges  from  the  History  of  llristol  C'oiintv. 

]64 


Another  of  the  town  industries  of  less  importance 
commercially,  but  quite  as  necessary  to  the  comfort  of  the 
people,  was  the  shoe-making  business.  In  early  times, 
the  shoemaker  went  from  house  to  house  and  made  up 
shoes  for  the  whole  family  once  a  year.  There  were  three 
tan-vards  in  the  town  :  one  situated  between  the  house 
and  barn  of  Frank  F.  Terry,  owned  by  Pierce  Phillips, 
who  had  his  shoemaker's  shop  near  by;  while  another 
shoemaker.   Joseph    Read,  had  his  shop  in   the  next   yard; 


N      R,    DAVIS     &    SONS     GUN     MANUFACTORY 

one  on  the  small  stream  which  flows  through  the  mead- 
ows north  of  the  Martin  House,  owned  by  James  Phillips 
until  about  isH  ;  and  the  third  was  near  the  east  bridge, 
owned  bv  Sylvester  R.  and  Chester   Briggs. 

X.    K.    D.WIS    cV-    SONS.    MFRS.    SPORTING    FIRP:    ARMS. 

Xathan  R.  Davis,  the  senior  member  of  this  firm, 
and  the  founder  of  the  gun  business  in  Assonet,  was  born 
in  Somerset.  Mass.,  August  is,  ls-_>s.      At  the  age  of  nine- 


teen  he  entered  the 
works  of  the  "Dean 
Cotton  and  ^Machine 
Co.,  in  Taunton, 
Mass.,  and  learned  the 
maehinist's  trade,  re- 
maining with  them 
three  years.  His  hrst 
work  as  a  master  me- 
e  h  a  n  i  e  w  a  s  w  i  t  h 
(xeorg-e  P.  Foster  & 
Co.,  of  Taunton,  mak- 
ing- rifles  bv  hand. 
Two  years  kiter  he 
transferred  his  tool 
ehest  to  the  shops  of 
Colt's  Pistol  Co..  at 
Hartford,  Conn., 
^^Tl  e  r  e  he  lea  r  n  e  d 
much  of  the  y:un  business.  Declinino-  an  offer  to  aid  in 
establishing-  a  branch  of  their  business  in  London,  Eng- 
land, Mr.  Davis  found  employment  with  J.  R.  Brown,  of 
Providence,  R.  I.,  where,  by  invitation  of  Mr.  Brown,  he 
might  have  made  the  firm  "Brown  &  Davis,"  instead  of 
"  Brown  &  Sharpe,"  as  the  well  known  eompan}'  is  called 
On  July  1st,   l.s.");'),  he  came  to  xVssonet,  and  fcjrm- 


N,    R,    DAVIS, 


todav 


ing  a  partnership  with  David  C.  Thresher,  of  that  village, 
under  name  of  N.  R.  Davis  &  Co..  they  began  the  manu- 
facture of  muzzle-loading  rifles  at  the  "Forge,"  so  called. 
Here,  with  an  engine-lathe,  run  by  water  power,  for 
machinery,  and  five  employees,  ihey  manufactured  (more 
literally  than  todav )  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  rifles, 
which  were  sold  in  small  lots  to  hardware  jobbers  of  New 
York.  In  the  Autumn  of  is."")-!-  they  removed  from  the 
"Forge"  to  the  old  Thresher  building  near  the  foot  of 
Water  street,  where  in  ls;)S  they  introduced  the  manu- 
facture of  the  inuzzle  loading  shot-gun,  the  business  slowly 

160 


developing  until  the  ad- 
vent of  war  in  IStU  elosed 
the  shop  for  a  season. 
Later  in  that  year,  how- 
ever, under  sub-contract 
with  the  general  go\-ern- 
ment,  they  began  the 
manufacture  of  parts  of 
the  Springfield  rifled  mus- 
kets, the  arm  in  general 
use  throughout  the  War 
of  the  Rebellion.  In 
iSCt:^,  because  of  failing 
health,  Mr.  Thresher  re- 
tired from  the  business, 
and  Thomas  (r.  Nichols, 
M.  D.,  became  an  equal 
partner  in  the  firm.     War 


N     W      DAVIS. 


times  were  favorable 
to  the  gun  business, 
and  the  plant  was  en- 
larged accordinglv,  em- 
ploying one  hundred 
men,  and  running  both 
night  and  da  v. 

The  giin-shop  was 
burned  to  the  ground 
May  li»,  lst;4,  fired  it 
is  believed  bv  some 
emissarv  of  the  South- 
ern Co  n  f  e  d  e  r  a  c  \' . 
There  being  no  insur- 
ance it  was  a  total  loss, 
government  contract 
and  all.  But  from  that 
wreck  of  half  a  cen- 
turv  since  N.   R.   Davis 


16-; 


&  Co.  saved  more 
than  they  h)st :  they 
saved  that  whieh  has 
made  possible  the  bus- 
iness of  todav :  faith 
in  themselves  and  in 
the  future  of  the  coun- 
try, their  credit  in  the 
V)usiness  world  and 
the  courajj'e  to  try 
again. 

New  machinery 
was  purchased  at  war 
prices  and  set  u])  in 
the  old  Nichols  & 
vSampson  store,  where 
soon  thev  were  at 
work  again  making' 
musket  parts  as  be- 
fore. By  the  close  of 
the  war  they  had  finished  among  other  parts  (WMi.doo 
rear  leaf  sights. 

The  rim-fire  breech-loading  double  guns  were  first 
made  in  Isili;.  This  style  was  soon  superseded  bv  the 
more  popular  center-fire  top-action  gun  which,  with  im- 
provements from  time  to  time,  is  the  firearm  now  placed 
upon  the  market.  In  the  winter  of  ls7;')-4  the  business 
was  removed  to  the  building  formerly  occupied  by  the 
Assonet  Machine  Co.,  which  has  been  much  enlarged 
within  a  few  years  and  refitted  to  suit  the  requirements. 
By  the  death  of  Dr.  Nichols  in  Iss:!,  the  old  partnership 
was  broken,  and  in  February  of  the  year  following  Mr. 
Davis,  having  acquired  the  whole  property,  admitted  as 
partners  in  the  business  his  sons,  W.  A.  and  N.  W.  Davis, 
under  the  firm  name  of  N.  R.  Davis  &  Sons. 


RALPH     H       FRANCIS 
Foreman    with    N,    R      Davis   &    Sor 


Kjs 


FOUR    CORNERS    LOOKING    NORTH. 


FOUR    CORNERS  LOOKING    SOUTH. 

169 


The  Shipping  Industry. 


BY  JOHN    M.    DEANE. 


SHIP    liUILDIXC. 

SHIP  BUILDING  was  one  of  the  earliest  and  most 
important  industries  of  Freetown.  Not  only  were 
vessels  built  for  its  own  eitizens,  who  were  largely 
interested  and  engaged  in  the  coastwise  and  foreign 
trades,  but  many  were  built  for  those  living  in  other 
towns.  A  study  of  the  long  list  of  vessels  hailing  froin 
Freetown,  which  follows,  most  of  them  having  been  built 
by  its  own  citizens,  must  impress  one  with  the  fact  that 
our  ancestors  were  wide  awake,  persevering,  and  fully 
alive  to  the  possibilities  of  transportation  and  commerce 
in  their  day  and  generation. 

The  first  vessels  of  which  we  have  any  record  were 
built  in  1TS:>,  and  the  last  one  in  1S48.  At  first  only  the 
smaller  vessels  were  constructed,  but  after  about  ten  years 
those  of  one  hundred  tons  burden,  or  more,  were  built. 
This  industry  was  perhaps  at  its  height  about  the  year 
1834,  when  seven  vessels  were  in  process  of  construction  in 
the  town  at  the  same  time.  One  of  them,  a  sloop,  was 
built  in  the  door  yard  of  the  first  house  south  of  the 
bridge  on  South  Main  street.  In  launching,  this  sloop 
had  to  slide  across  the  street,  across  an  open  lot,  and  into 
the  river,  at  a  point  where  it  was  no  wider  than  the  length 
of  the  sloop  itself,  but  the  ways  were  so  constructed  that 
she  took  to  the  water  lengthwise  of  the  river.  Another 
was  built  in  front  of  the  present  residence  of   Charles   H, 

170 


Read,  on  West  Water  street;  the  schooner  President  at 
the  ship  yard  on  Water  street ;  one  on  Welcome's  shore ; 
one  near  Cudworth's  wharf;  the  schooner  Fk^rida  at  the 
ship  yard  at  the  head  of  Payne's  Cove ;  and  the  sloop  Mary 
Elizabeth  at  David  Robinson's  shore. 

Kempton  Burbank,  as  boss  carpenter,  constructed  many 
of  the  Assonet  vessels,  which,  for  strength  and  seaworth- 
iness, had  a  wide  reputation.  Job  Payne  also  built  several 
vessels.  He  was  the  boss  carpenter  on  the  schooner  Flor- 
ida in  1884,  the  last  vessel  built  on  Payne's  Cove,  and  also 
on  the  schooner  Carrier  in  1848,  the  last  vessel  built  at  the 
ship  yard  on  Water  street,  or  in  the  town.  The  stub  of 
one  of  the  dog  shores,  that  was  cut  away  when  this  vessel 
was  launched,  is  still  in  the  ofround  and  in  a  Lrood  state  of 
preservation.  The  other  was  taken  out  by  the  ice  in  the 
winter  of  19(>1.  The  writer  was  launched  in  the  Carrier, 
and  remembers  the  breaking  of  the  bottle  of  wine  on  her 
prow  as  she  slid  into  the  water.  Another  custom  of  the 
times  was  to  place  a  coin,  for  good  luck,  under  the  masts 
of  vessels  when  they  were  stepped.  At  one  time,  from 
forty  to  fifty  hands  were  employed  in  ship  building  in  the 
town.  Under  what  disadvantages  those  men  had  to  work, 
as  compared  with  the  methods  employed  in  modern  ship 
building  I  Then  everyone  had  to  be  a  thorough  mechanic, 
and  must  have  served  his  full  time  as  an  apprentice.  He 
must  be  able  to  swing  the  heavy  broadaxe,  and  to  hew  to 
the  line.  By  hand,  and  with  few  tools  and  appliances,  he 
must  work  out  and  set  up  the  vessel's  ribs,  and,  b}'  the  aid 
of  ring-bolts  and  hand-spikes,  be  able  to  twist  the  stout 
planking  into  place  and  fasten  it  with  hand  made  tree- 
nails. From  the  heavy  gnarled  oak  and  apple  tree,  trunk 
and  branch,  he  must  plan  and  form  the  knees  or  braces, 
that  are  to  fit  angles,  right,  acute,  or  obtuse,  and  bolt  them 
to  place  with  his  riveting  hammer.  The  deck,  after  being 
fastened  with  hand  made  spikes,  was  caulked,  and  the 
seams  filled  with  hot  tar  poured  from  periwinkle  .shells. 
The   oakum   for   caulking   did   not    come    in    ready    made 

171 


strands,  but  in  solid  bales,  and  had  to  be  whipped,  and 
picked,  and  worked  into  strands,  by  hand  rolling,  on  the 
knee. 

Iron  rods  and  bars  had  to  be  cut  by  hand  with  a  cold 
chisel,  a  birch  withe  wound  round  its  head  serving  as  a 
handle  to  hold  it  in  place,  as  the  sledge  hammer,  wielded 
by  human  power,  descended  upon  it  with  force.  When 
the  time  came  for  setting  up  the  standing  rigging,  a  hot 
day  must  be  selected  in  which  to  first  stretch  the  large 
ropes,  and  make  the  bight  that  is  put  over  the  mast-head. 
The  noble  old  acorn  tree,  that  stood  in  Nichols'  pasture, 
under  which  the  children  of  the  village  have  spent  so 
many  happy  hours,  served  well  in  this  operation.  One  end 
of  the  rope  to  be  stretched  was  fastened  to  it,  while  the 
tackle  was  fastened  to  a  large  juniper  tree  across  the  lot. 
A  powerful  team  of  oxen,  with  the  aid  of  the  tackle,  did  the 
stretching,  the  large  tarred  rope  being  kept  off  the  ground 
by  crossed  sticks  lashed  together,  placed  under  it  at  short 
intervals.  It  is  a  pitv  that  the  old  acorn  tree,  a  wide 
spreading  white  oak,  should  have  been  destroyed  by  boys, 
who  are  now  men,  who  thoughtlessly  built  fires  in  a  cavity 
that  appeared  near  its  base. 

A  saw-pit  and  a  steam-box  were  about  the  only 
adjuncts  of  an  ancient  ship  yard.  The  former,  being  a 
long  frame  about  six  feet  high,  was  built  over  a  trench  two 
feet  deep.  The  timber  to  be  sawed  was  placed  on  the 
frame,  and  the  splitting  saw  was  worked  by  two  men,  one 
on  the  frame,  the  other  in  the  trench.  The  steam-box  was  a 
long  box  with  a  large  covered  kettle  under  the  center,  and 
connected  with  it  bv  a  spout  for  conducting  the  steam  into 
it.  After  the  timber  to  be  steamed  had  been  placed  in  the 
box,  the  ends  were  stuffed  with  seaweed  to  prevent  the 
escape  of  the  steam. 

A  small  rude  shed  in  which  to  store  the  carpenters" 
tool  chests,  and  such  material  as  must  be  kept  under 
cover,  was  often  the  only  building  on  the  plant.  These 
ancient  ship  carpenters  had   no  whistle,    bell,    or  clock  in 

173 


the  tower  to  call  them  to,  or  dismiss  them  from,  their  daily 
labors.  The  rising  sun  found  them  at  the  yard,  and  its 
setting  in  the  west  told  them  when  it  was  time  to  "knock 
off."'  Grog  was  served  at  11. Oo  A.  M.,  and  4. on  P.  M.  In 
modern  ship  building,  a  novice  may  touch  the  button  and 
machinery  will  do  the  rest.  It  has  been  said  of  Captain 
Welcome  Hathaway,  who,  in  his  day.  was  largely  interested 
in  shipping  and  ship  building,  that  he  could  model  a  ves- 
sel, build  her,  rig  her,  make  her  sails,  and  sail  her. 


CAPT.    WELCOME    HATHAWAY. 

The    first    records    of    vessels    hailing   from    the  town 

were  kept  at  the  ofhce  of  the  old  Dighton  Customs  District. 

These  were  later  transferred  to  the  Cu.stom  House  in   Fall 

River,  where  those   for  the   years  previous  to  17>>l>  were 

burned   in   the   great  fire  that   visited   that  place   vSunday 

July  •}.  lS-4-.'5.      By  act  of  Congress,  the  office  of  Collector  of 

Cu.stoms  at   Dighton   was  discontinued,  April    1,  is;;;;,  and 

by  the  .same  act.  Fall  River  was  made  a  port  of  entry  and 

deliverv. 

173 


The  following  list  of  vessels  hailing  from  Freetown 
since  the  year  1TS2,  and  once  owned  wholly,  or  in  part,  by 
citizens  of  the  town,  was  taken  from  the  records  of  the 
Custom  House  at  Fall  River,  and  kindly  furnished  by  Cap- 
tain Edward  T.  Marvel,  Deputy  Collector  of  Customs,  to 
whom  the  thanks  of  the  writer,  and  also  of  the  Committee 
on  History,  are  heartily  extended  for  his  interesting  and 
valuable  contribution. 

The  list  includes  158  sloops,  72  schooners,  20  brigs, 
1  brigantine,  2  barques,  and  1  ship,  a  total  of  2r)4  vessels. 

The  number  of  tons  burden,  and  the  year  of  construc- 
tion are  given  in  each  case,  when  stated  in  the  records. 

The  names  of  the  Master  and  owners  are  from  the 
last  marine  paper  issued  to  each  vessel.  In  a  few  cases, 
however,  names  have  been  taken  from  former  marine 
papers,  or  supplied  from  memory. 

In  a  few  instances,  incidental  notes  have  been  added 
to  the  list  by  the  writer. 

Vessels  that  were  built  for  owners  not  living  in  Free- 
town do  not  appear  in  the  list. 

LIST    OF    VESSELS    HAILIXci    FROM    KREET(J\VN, 
FROM    1TS2    TO    1902. 

Sloop  Languedoc.     30  tons.      Built  1782.      Ephraim  Briggs,  Master. 

Ephraim  Briggs  and  Philip  Hathaway,  owners.     Sold  1801. 
Sloop  Hard  Times.     33  tons.      Built  1782.     Edmund  Briggs,  Master. 

Edmund  Briggs,  John  Briggs  and  James  Richmond,  owners.   Sold  1790. 
Sloop  Dolphin.     23  tons.     Built  1782.     Augustus  Chase,  Master. 

Augustus  Chase,  John  Briggs  and  Edward  Chase,  owners. 

Also  Zephaniah  T.  Briggs,  Master. 

Stephen  Barnaby  and  Malbone  Hathaway,  owners.    Broken  up  1838. 
Schooner  Peace  and  Plenty.     30  tons.     Built  1783.     Jonathan   Read,  Jr., 

Master. 

Jonathan  Read,  Jr.,  Jonathan  Read,  George  Read,  Joseph  Borden  and 

Isaac  Winslow,  owners.     Broken  up  1802. 
Sloop  Resolution.     60  tons.     Built  1784.     Charles  Chase,  Master. 

Simeon  Borden  and  Perry  Borden,  owners. 

Also  Henry  Gardner,  Master. 

Varnum  Thurston,  Abraham  Gardner  and  William  Gardner,  owners. 

174 


Sloop  Dolphin.     48  tons.     Built  1784.     Elisha  Gregory,  Master. 

Elisha  Gregory,  Ebenezer  Crane,  Jr.,  and  Joseph  Dean,  owners. 
Sloop  Friendship.     51  tons.     Built  1784. 

Jonathan  Barnaby,  Master  and  owner. 
Sloop  Industry.     32  tons.     Built  1784.     John  Briggs,  Master. 

Benjamin  Winslow,  Avery  Winslow  and  Ebenezer  Crane,  owners 

Sloop  Elizabeth.     47  tons.     Built  1784.     Joseph  Brightman,  Master. 
Joseph  Brightman,  Jonathan  and  Nathan  Brightman,  owners. 

Sloop  Betsey.     51  tons.     Built  1784.     Abiel  Hathaway,  Master. 

Abiel  Hathaway,  Isaac  Merritt  and  Peirce  Phillips,  owners. 
Sloop  Briton.     46  tons.     Built  1784.     Aaron  Borden,  Master  and  owner. 
Sloop  Rose.     20  tons.     Built  1785.     Valentine  Blethen,  Master. 

Valentine  Blethen  and  Ambrose  Barnaby,  owners.     Sold  1801. 
Sloop  New  York  Packet.     57  tons.     Built  1785. 

Thomas  Tripp,  Master  and  owner. 
Sloop  Defiance.     35  tons.     Built  1785. 

William  Read,  Master  and  owner. 

Sloop  Swallow.     47  tons.     Built  1786.     Walter  Chaloner,  Master. 
Walter  Chaloner,  Joseph  Durfee  and  Benjamin  Durfee,  owners. 
Also  Walter  Chaloner,  sole  owner. 
Sold  New  Bedford  179S. 

Sloop  Kingfisher.     30  tons.     Built  1786.     Ephraim  Briggs,  Master. 

Ephraim  Briggs,  Benjamin  Peirce  and  Abiel  Briggs,  owners. 

John  Payne,  Jr.  and  William   Read  Jr.,  once  part  owners.     Sold  New 

port  1795. 
Sloop  George.     65  tons.     Built  1786.     ()bed  Freeman,   Master. 

Henry  Brightman,  owner. 
Schooner  Rebecca.     48  tons.     Buih  1786.     Zephaniah  Terry,  Master. 

Zephaniah  Terry,  Isaac  Merritt,  Job  Terry,  Solomon  Terry,  and  Ben 

jamin  Dagget,  owners. 

Abiel  Hathaway,   Zebedee   Terry  and   Henrj-   Bragg  also  commanded 
this  vessel,  and  with  Samuel  Swany  and  David  Perkins  were  part  owners. 

Sloop  Quick  Time.     50  tons.     Built  1786.     Godfrey  Briggs,  Master. 

Godfrey,  Joseph  and  Malbone  Briggs,  owners. 
Sloop  Lark.     27  tons.     Built .     Registered   1793.     Richard    Borden, 

Master. 

Richard  and  Thomas  Borden,  owners. 

Also  Nathan  ( Gardner ,  Master.     Peter  Gardner,  owner. 

Also  Job  Simmons,  Master.     Peleg  Gardner,  owner. 
Sloop  Sallie.     61  tons.     Built   1788.     Thomas  Payne,  Master. 

Thomas  Payne  and  Simon  Potter,  owners. 
Schooner  Phebe,  31  tons.     Built  1788.     Henry  Carter,  Jr.,  Master. 

Henry  Carter,  Jr.,  and  Thomas  Borden,  3rd,  owners.     Sold  Newport, 

1805. 

175 


Sloop  Sally.     32  tons.     Built  1788.     Nathan  Briggs,  Master. 
James  Nichols  and  Job  Chase,  owners. 

Sloop  Two  Brothers.     41  tons.     Built  1788.     Samuel  Borden,  Master. 

Simeon  Borden  and  Perry  Borden,  owners. 
Sloop  Eliza.     44  tons.      Built  1789.     Samuel  Dixson,  Master. 

Samuel  Dixson  and  David  Kennedy,  owners. 

Also  Joseph  Crandelle,  Master. 
Sloop  Carlton.     4()  tons.     Built  1789. 

Parker  Borden,  Master  and  owner. 

Also  John  Davis,  Master  and  owner. 

Sloop  Rainbow.     25  tons.     Built  1789. 

Job  Simmons,  Master  and  owner.     Sold  179."). 

Sloop  Polly.     >)4  tons.     Built  before  1789.     Philip  Hathaway,  Master. 
Philip,  Lot  and  Joseph  Hathaway,  owners.     vSold  1790. 

Schooner  May  Flower.     24  tons.     Built  before  1789. 
Job  Allen,  Master  and  Owner. 

Sloop  Monmouth.     80  tons.     Joseph  Church,  Master. 

Nathaniel  Bowen,  owner.     Sold  1792. 
Sloop  Lively.     34  tons.     Built  before  17S9.     Nathaniel  Lewis,  Master. 

Zebulon    White  and  Ambrose   Barnaby,    owners.     Sold    Philadelphia, 

1792. 
Sloop  Hannah.     37  tons.     Built  before  17S9.     Edward  Woodman,  Master. 

Lsaac  Brightman,  owner.     Sold  1790. 
Schooner  Diadema.     88  tons.      Built  1791.       Philip  Hathaway,  Jr.,  Master. 

Philip  Hathaway,  owner 
Sloop  Randolph.     32  tons.     Built  1791.     Jonathan  Cleveland,  Master. 

Jael  Hathaway,  owner.     Sold  1801. 
Brig  Diadema.     10(i  tons.     Built  1791.     Benjamin  Tew,  Master. 

Philijj,  Joseph  and  Guilford  Hathaway,  owners. 

Sloop  Hibernia.     41  tons.     Registered  1792.  '  John  Shaw,  Master. 
John  Shaw  and  John  Dennis,  owners. 

Sloop  Four  Cousins.     50  tons.     Built  1792.     ShefTel  Weaver,  Master. 
Thomas  Davis,  Benjamin  Davis  and  George  Read,  owners. 

Sloop  Esther.     (12  tons.     Built  1792.     Joseph  Andrews,  Master. 

James  Dean,  James  Dean,  Jr.,  David  Dean  and  Samuel  Dean,  owners. 

Also  James  Dean,  Jr.,  Master. 
Sloop  Mary.     (12  tons.     Built  1792.     Jonathan  Bowen,  Master. 

Jonathan   Bowen,    George  Shove,    Darius   Chase,   and   Richard  Clark, 

owners. 

Also  Sheffel  Weaver,   Master,   and  with  Samuel   Tobey  and  Ichabod 

Read,  part  owners.     Sold  Newbern,  1793. 
Schooner  Arethusa.     85  tons.     Built  1793.      Edmund  A'alentine,  Master. 

Edmund  and  William  Valentine,  owners.     Sold  Providence.  1794. 

17G 


Sloop  Chartley  Ann.  47  tons.  Built  1798.  Philip  Hathaway,  ^Master  and 
owner.     Sold  at  Camden,  X.  C,  1795. 

Schooner  Assonet  Packet.  41  tons.  Built  1793.  Ebenezer  Payne,  Master. 
Ebenezer  Payne,  Kempton  Burbank,  Philip  Hathaway,  2d,  and  Calvin 
Hathaway,  owners.     Sold  Sag  Harbor,  1798. 

Sloop  Mary  Ann.     49  tons.     Built  1793.     Jonathan  Bowen,  Master. 

Jonathan  Bowen,   George,   Asa,    Stephen   and   Samuel  Shove,  owners. 

Sold  Providence,  1794. 
Sloop  Dolphin.     63  tons.     Built  1793.     Josiah  Wardwell,  Master. 

Benjamin  and  Peleg  Brightman,  owners. 

Also  William  Richmond,   Master. 

Sloop  Friendship.     59  tons.     Built  1794.     Dudley  Chace,  Master. 

Dudley  Chace,  Thomas  Davis,  David  Cleveland,  and  Thomas  Durfee, 

2d,  owners. 

Also  Simeon  Jones,  Master. 

James  Morrison  and  Samuel  Weaver,  owners. 

Also  Nathan  Weaver,  IMaster. 
Schooner  Liberty.     47  tons.     Built  1794.     Philip  Chase.  Master. 

Philip.  Isaiah  and  Isaac  Chase,  owners. 

Also  Simeon  Jones,  Master  and  owner. 

Brig  Maria.     98  tons.     Built  1794.     Sheffel  Weaver,   Master. 

Jonathan   Bowen,  Joseph   Hathaway,   Darius   Chase,   Stephen    Shove, 

Edmund  Hathaway,  George  Shove,  David  Bowen  and  Gamael  Dean, 

owners 
Sloop  Harriote.     61  tons.     Built  1794.     Abraham  Simmons,  Master. 

David  Barnaby,  Anson  and  Valentine  Blethen,  owners. 

Brigantine  Clarissa.  160  tons.  Built  1794.  William  Richmond,  Master. 
John  Davis,  owner. 

Sloop  Polly.     50  tons.      Built  1794      Joseph  Andrews,  Master. 

Jaharick  Shaw,  Samuel  Leonard  and  Samuel  Fales,  owners. 

Also  James  Brigg,  Master. 

Daniel  Cartwright,  Master.     John  Hathaway,  owner. 

Philip  Chase,  Master. 

Philip,  Isaac  and  Isaiah  Chase,  owners. 

Jonathan  Luce,  Master. 

Jonathan  and  Warren  Luce,  owners. 
Sloop  Polly.     36  tons.     Built  1794.     John  Crane  2d,  Master. 

John    Briggs,   2d,   Philip    Hathaway,   Joseph   Hathaway    and    Calvin 

Hathaway,  owners.     Sold  Newport,  1795. 

Sloop  Discovery.     49  tons.     Built  1794.     Noble  Perry,  Master. 
Noble  and  Joseph  Perry,  owners. 

Sloop  Betsey.     34  tons.     Built  1794.     Simeon  Burr,  Master. 

Dudley  Hathaway,  Joseph  Hathaway  and  William  Read,  Jr.,  owners. 
Sold  1795. 

177 


Sloop  Humbird.     38  tons.     Built  1794.     Joseph  Church,  Master. 
Nathan  Bowen,  owner.     Sold  Bristol,  1801. 

Sloop  Discovery.     49  tons.     Built  1794.     Seth  Chase,  Master. 
Darius  Chase,  owner.     Sold  1795. 

Sloop  Union.     44  tons.      Built  1795.     Josiah  Paddock,  Master. 

Josiah   Paddock,    Richmond   Paddock,   Job   Peirce  and  Clothier  Hath- 
away, owners. 
Also  Clothier  Hathaway,  Master.     Sold  1797. 

Schooner  Rambler.     69  tons.     Built  1795.     Nathan  Weaver,   Master. 

Nathan   Weaver,   Sheffel  Weaver,   Jonathan   Read,    Jr.,   and   heirs  of 

Ichabod  Read,  owners. 

Also  Sheffel  Weaver,  Master,  and  George  and  Daniel  Read,  part  owners. 

Last  at  Georgetown,  S.  C,  1798. 
Sloop  Two  Peters.     38  tons.     Built  1795.     Seth  Chace,  Master. 

Gilbert   Chace  and   Peter  Nichols  (Blacksmith)   owners.     Sold    Perth 

Amboy,  1798. 
Sloop  Welcome.     44  tons.     Built  1795,  and  at  once  sold  to  Solomon  Thorn- 
ton Jr.  and  Christopher  Thornton. 

Brig  Charlotte.     101  tons.     Built  1795. 

Wanton  Steere,  Master  and  owner. 
Schooner  Apollo.     94  tons.     Built  1795.     Philip  Chace,  Master. 

Augustus  Chace,  Josiah  Paddock,  Job  Peirce,  and  John  Terry,  owners. 

Brig  Orange.     125  tons.     Built  1795.     Stephen  Chace,   Master, 
Edmund  Valentine,  owner. 

Sloop  Betser.     55  tons.     Built  1795.     Henry  Pettis,  Master. 
Ebenezer  Crane,  Jr.,  ApoUos  and  Levi  Dean,  Owners. 

Sloop  Brandawine.     72  tons.      Built  1795.     Abel  Borden,  Master. 
Abel,  Abner  and  Joseph  Borden,  owners. 

Brig  William.     129  tons.     Built  1796.     Luther  Winslow,  Jr.,  Master. 

Luther  Winslow,    David  Valentine,    Luther  Winslow,   Jr.   and  Edson 

Valentine,  owners. 

Also  Edward  Gardner  and  Edson  Valentine,  Masters. 

Brig  Polly  and  Nancy.    105  tons.    Built  1796.    Benjamin  W.  Brown,  Master. 
Also  William  Read,  Jr.,  Master. 

Benjamin  W.   Brown,    Robert   Porter,    Samuel  Pickens,  and  Edmund 
Hathaway,  owners.     Sold  1797. 

Sloop  Dolphin.     61  tons.     Built  1796. 

Edson  Valentine,  Master  and  owner. 
Also  Nathan  Weaver,  Master. 

Thomas  Davis,  Thomas  Freelove,  Jr.,  Joseph  and  Oliver  Read,  own- 
ers.    Sold  1799. 

Sloop  Lucy.     49  tons.     Built  1796.     Philip  Hathaway,  Master. 

Philip  Hathaway  and  Edmund  Hathaway,  owners.     Sold  1801. 

178 


Sloop  Fair  Rosamond.     51  tons.     Built  1796.     William  Read,  Jr.,   Master. 
William   Read,    Jr.,    Dudley    Hathaway,    John    Hathaway,    2d,    and 
Edmund  Hathaway,  owners.     Sold  1797. 
Sloop  Law  Book.     30  tons.     Built  1796.     Daniel  Barnaby,  Master. 

Daniel  Barnaby,  Ambrose  Barnaby,  Valentine  Blethen,  and  Jonathan 
Davis,  owners.     Sold  New  Bedford,  1797. 
Sloop  Endeavor.     38  tons.     Built  1796.     Valentine  Blethen,  Master. 

Valentine   Blethen,   William  Valentine,    David  Cleveland  and  Robert 
Miller,  owners.      Sold  1798. 
Sloop  Regulator.     32  tons.     Built  1796.     Valentine  Blethen,  Master. 

Valentine   Blethen,    William    Valentine   and   Thomas    Davis,    owners. 
Sold  1803. 
Sloop  Sea  Flower.     73  tons.     Built  1797.     William  Read,  Jr.,  Master. 

William  Valentine,  owner.     Sold  Bristol,  1801. 
Sloop  Rover.     37  tons.     Built  1797.     Peter  Nichols,  Master. 

Peter,  James  and  Joseph  Nichols,  owners.     Sold  New  Bedford,  1801. 
Sloop  Warden.     34  tons.     Built  1797.     Edmund  Hathaway,  Master. 

Edmund  Hathaway,   Benjamin   W.  Biown  and  Samuel  Pickens,  own 
ers.     Sold  Newport,  1799. 
Sloop  Eagle.     35  tons.     Built  1797.     Isaac  Burbank,  Jr.,  Master. 

Kempton  Burbank,  owner.     Sold  1800. 
Sloop  Defiance.     34  tons.     Built  1797.     John  Teriy,  Master. 

John  and  Zephaniah  Terry,  owners.     Sold  Providence,  180O. 
Sloop  Quick  Times.     34  tons.     Built  1797.     Ephraim  Briggs,  Master. 

Peter  Nichols  and  Isaac  Burbank,  owners.     Sold  1813. 
Sloop  Ranger.     24  tons.     Built  1797.     Benjamin  Porter,  Jr.,  Master. 
Benjamin  Porter,  Jr.,  ai  d  Jonathan  Bowen,  owners.     Sold  1799. 
Sloop  Mary  Dean.     50  tons.     Built  1797.     David  Padelford,  Master. 

David  Padelford,  Ebenezer  and  Enos  Dean,  owners. 
Brig  Ceha.     118  tons.     Built  1798.     Joseph  S.  Martin,  Master. 

John  Davis,  owner. 
Sloop  Betsey.     37  tons.     Built  1798.     Ebenezer  Payne,  2d,  Master. 

Ebenezer  Payne,  2d,  Luther  Briggs  and   Philip  Chase,  owners.     Sold 
1802. 
Sloop  Wealthy.     35  tons.     Built  1798.     John  Payne,  Jr.,  Master. 

John  Payne,  Jr.  and  Augustus  Chase,  owners.     Ashore  and  broken  up 
1802. 
Schooner  Hiram.     78  tons.     Built  1798.     Philip  Chase,  Master. 

Philip,  Gilbert.  Augustus  and    Darius  Chase  and   Luther  Briggs,  own- 
ers.    Sold  Charleston,  1799. 
Schooner  Diana.     89  tons.     Built  1799.     Edmund  Hathaway,  Master. 

Edmund  and  Philip  Hathaway,  owners.     Sold  1801. 
Sloop  Eliza.     37  tons.     Built  1799.     John  Boyce,  Master. 

Edward  Shove,   Joseph  Shove,   Josiah    Paddock,   Guilford   Hathaway 
and  Oliver  Grinnell,  owners.     Stranded  at  Snow  Hill  and  sold  1804. 

179 


Schooner  Marian.     78  tons.     Built  1799.     Guilford  Hathaway,  Master. 

Guilford  Hathaway,  Jonathan  and  Benjamin  W.  Bowen,  owners.  Sold 
at  Newport,  1800. 

Schooner  George.     85  tons.     Built  1799.     Sheffel  Weaver,  Master. 
Isaiah,  Thomas  and  George  Borden,  Jr.,  owners. 
Also  George  Borden,  Jr.,  Master.     Sold. 

Sloop  Adams.     37  tons.     Built  1799. 

Gilbert  Staples,  Master  and  owner.       Sold  1816. 

Sloop  Justina.     69  tons.     Built  1799,  for  Newport  pai'ties. 

Schooner  Friendship.     101  tons.     Built  1800.     John  Read,  Master. 

John  Read,  Joseph  Shove,  Edward  Shove,  Kempton  Burbank,  David 
Cudworth  and  Gilbert  Tisdale,  owners.  Registered  at  Wilmington, 
1802. 

Schooner  Persis.     93  tons.     Built  1800.     John  Strange,  Master. 

John  Strange,  Alden  Hathaway,  Noah  Hathaway  and  Benjamin 
Chace,  2d,  owners.     Last  at  Georgetown,  S.  C,  1801. 

Brig  Spanish  Lady,  127  tons.     Built  1800.     Philip  Chase,  Master. 

Philip  Chace,  Augustus  Chace  and  Luther  Briggs,  owners.  Surren- 
dered at  St.  Mary's,  1802. 

Brig  Neptune.     41  tons.     Built  1800.     Anson  Bliffins,  Master. 

John  Bowers,  owner. 
Schooner  Grand  Turk.     128  tons.      Built  1800.     Henry  Pettis,  Master. 

Edson  Valentine,  owner. 

Also  Edson  Valentine,  Master,  and  Jonathan  Bowen,  part  owner. 
Schooner  Hiram.     113  tons.     Built  1800.     Nathan  Weaver,  Master. 

Sheffel  Weaver,  Enos  Cleveland,  Jonathan   Read  and  Jonathan  Read, 

Jr.,  owners. 
Schooner  Republican.     99  tuns.     Built  1800.     Elisha  Gregory,  Master. 

Elisha  Gregory,  Ebenezer  Crane,   Augustus   Chase,  Eleazor  and  Peter 

Nichols,  owners. 
Schooner  Hecate.     92  tons.     Built  1801.     Azel  Howard,  Master. 

Francis  Howard,  George  Baylus  and  John  Angior,  owners. 
Schooner  Fair  Play.     95  tons.     Built  1801.     John  Brown,  Master. 

John  and  Samuel  Brown,  owners. 
Brig  Industry.     141  tons.     Built  1801.     Benjamin  Davis  Jr.,  Master. 

Benjamin  Davis  Jr.,  and  Collins  Chase,  owners. 
Schooner  Betsey.     84  tons.     Built  1801.     John  Strange,  Master. 

John    Strange,    Josiah    Paddock,    Paddock     Richmond  and   Sylvester 

Briggs,  owners. 
Schooner  Atalanta.     127  tons.     Built  1801.     Edmund  Hathaway,  Master. 

Edmund  and  Noah  Hathaway,  owners. 

Also  Benjamin  P.  Chase,  ^Master.     Edmund  Hathaway,  sole  owner. 

Also  Philip  Tew,  Master.     Stranded  and  lost  on  Cape  Henry  1810. 
Schooner  Polly  Merrick.     67  tons.      Built  1801.     David  Miller,   Master. 

Also  Joseph  Childs,  Master. 

Isaac  Merrick  and  David  Miller,  owners.     Sold  New  Bedford,  1803. 

ISd 


Schooner  Harriet.     106  tons.     Built  1801.     Philip  Chase,  Master. 

Philip,  Gilbert  and  Augustus  Chase,  John  Strange,  Luther  and  Gilbert 

Briggs,  owners.     Registered  1809. 
Sloop  Argus.     44  tons.     Built  1801.     Job  G.  Lawton,  Master. 

Daniel  Douglas,  Ebenezer  Peirce  and  Job  Peirce,  owners.     Sold  1804- 
Schooner   American    Lady.     60  tons.     Built    ISOl.     Ebenezer    Payne,    2d, 

Master. 

Ebenezer   Payne,    2d,    Ebenezer  Payne  and  John  Cudworth,  owners. 

Registered  at  Camden,  1804. 
Brig  Defiance.     115  tons.     Built  1801.     Guilford  Hathaway,  Master. 

Guilford  and  Philip  Hathaway,  owners.   Registered  at  Savannah,  1801. 

Sloop  Sally.     38  tons.     Built  1801.     John  Briggs,  Master. 

John  Briggs  2d  and  Kempton  Barbank,  owners.     Last  at  Bristol,  1806. 

Schooner  Republican.     46  tons.      Built  1802.     George  C.   Briggs,  Master. 

George  C.  Briggs,  Luther  Briggs,  John  Terry,  Kempton  Burbank,  and 

Malbone  Hathaway,  owners.     Sold  1811. 
Schooner  Abigail.     106  tons.     Built  1802.     James  L.  Valentine.  Master. 

Thomas  Valentine,   Augustus   Chase,    Anson     Blifhns   and   James    L. 

Valentine,  owners. 
Sloop  Volly.     21  tons      Built  1802.     William  Hall,  Master. 

Ebenezer  Peirce,  Joseph  and  Stephen  Barnaby,  owners.     Sold  1814. 
Sloop  Lily.     40  tons.     Built  1802.     Job  Terry,  Master. 

Job  Terry,  Wanton  Hathaway,  and  Job  Payne,  owners. 

Brig  Jeiferson.  112  tons.  Built  1802.  Aaron  Dean,  Master.  Aaron  Dean, 
Samuel  Dean,  Bailey  Winslow,  Nicholas  Hathaway,  Job  Peirce,  Eben- 
ezer Peirce  and  David  A.  Leonard,  owners. 

David  A.  Leonard,  at  one  time  a  resident  of   Assonet  Village,  was  the 

grandfather  of  the  Hon.  John  Hay,  Secretary  of  State,  the  most  noted 

and   influential   diplomat   of   the    present   age,   whose  mother,    Helen 

( Leonard)  Hay,  was  born  at  Assonet. 
Brig  Hiram.     116  tons.     Built  1802.     John  Strange,  Master. 

John  Strange,    Gilbert   Chace,   Richard  Clark,   Oliver   Grinnell,    Silas 

Payne,    Josiah   Paddock,    Kempton    Burbank     Joseph,     Edward    and 

George  Shove,  owners. 
Sloop  Swift.     51  tons.     Built  1802.     John  Bourn,  Master. 

Samuel  Bourn,  William,  Philip  and  John  Winslow  3d,  owners. 
Schooner  Prudence.     46  tons.     Built  1802.     Henry  Munroe,  Master. 

Henry  Munroe  and  Samuel  Townsend,  owners. 
Brig  President.     155  tons.     Built  1802.     Simmons  Hathaway,  Master. 

Simmons  and  Philip  Hathaway,  owners. 

Also  Benjamin  W.  Brown,  Master. 
Sloop  Antelope.     86  tons.     Built  1S02.     Sheflfel  Weaver,  Master. 

Sheffel  Weaver,  Jonathan  Read  and  Jonathan  Read,  Jr.,  owners. 

Also  Nathan  Weaver,  Master.     Changed  to  schooner  and  sold  1803. 

181 


Sloop  Fair  Play.     46  tons.     Built  1802.     Henry  Carter,  Jr.,  Master. 

Henry  Carter,  Jr.  and  Thomas  Borden,  3rd,  owners.     Sold  Providence, 

1803. 
Sloop  Two  Brothers.     47  tons.     Built  1802.     Theophilus  Chase,  Master. 

Josiah  Paddock,  Joseph   Shove,    Edward   Shove  and  Jason  Hathaway, 

owners. 
Schooner  Pegasus.     Ill  tons.      Built  1803.     John  C.  Richmond,  Master. 

John  Bowers  and  Benjamin  Davis,  owners. 

Also  Audley  Clarke,  Master. 

Audley  Clarke,  Peleg  Wood,  Jr.,  and  Christopher  Fowler,  owners. 

Sloop  Ranger.     28  tons.     Built  1803.     David  Hathaway,  Master. 

Henry  Hathaway,  owner.     Broken  up  1821. 
Schooner  Angenora.     89  tons.     Built  1803.      Nathan  Simmons,  Master. 

Edson  Valentine,  owner.     Sold  Bristol,  1804. 

Sloop  Triton.     49  tons.      Built  1803.     Henry  Tew,  Jr.,  Master. 

Ebenezer  Peirce,    Job  Peirce,   John    Terry   and   Silas  Terry,   owners. 

Sold  Bristol,  1800. 
Sloop  Sinia.     39  tons.     Built  1803. 

Augustus  Chace,  Master  and  owner.     Broken  up  1811. 

Schooner  Caroline.     113  tons.     Built  1804.     John  Pierce,  Master. 

Apollos  Dean,    Peter   Nichols,   Levi  Dean,   Heirs  of   Eleazer  Nichols, 
widow  Hopey  Terry  and  Zephaniah  Terry,  owners.     Sold  1813. 

Schooner  Dover.     107  tons.     Built  1804.     Daniel  Cha?e,  Master. 

Peter    Nichols,   Anson    Bliffins,    Z.   Terry,   Jr.,    Gilbert   Chase,    John 
Terry,  Luther  Briggs  and  Eleazer  Nichols,  owners.     Registered  1809. 

Schooner  Hiram.     110  tons.      Built  1804.     Anson  Bliffins,  Master. 

Anson   Bliffins   and  James   L.    Valentine,    owners.     Last   at    Charles- 
ton, 1810. 
Sloop  Amy.     37  tons.     Built  1804.     James  Burr,  Master. 

James  Burr,  Daniel  Douglass  and  Daniel  Douglass,  Jr.,  owners.     Last 

at  Bristol,  1811. 
Brig  Mount  Vernon.     187  tons.     Built  1805.     Joseph  Peirce,  Master. 

Jo.seph  Peirce,  Josiah   Paddock,    Richard  Clark,   Joseph,   Edward  and 

George  vShove,  owners. 
Ship  Perseverence.     200  tons.     Built  1805.     Simmons  Hathaway,  Master. 

Simmons  and  Edmund  Hathaway,  owners. 
Brig  Fair  America.     138  tons.     Built  1805.     John  Strange,  Master. 

John   Strange,  John   Hathaway,   Samuel  and  Samuel  Hathaway,  Jr., 

owners. 
Schooner  Traveller.     73  tons.     Built  1S05.      Frederick  Hathaway,  Master. 

Alden  Hathaway,  owner.     Registered  1809. 
Schooner  Little  Ann.     74  tons.     Built  1805.     George  C.  Briggs,  Master. 

Robert  Porter,  Paddock  Richmond.  Joseph  E.  Read  and  Henry  Porter 

owners.      Last  at  Washington,  North  Carolina,  1806. 

182 


Sloop  Fame.     34  tons.     Built  1805.     Jason  Hathaway,  ISIaster. 

Ja'^on  Hathaway  and  John  Cudworth,  owners.     Sold  Sag  Harbor,  1811. 
Sloop  Eunice.     48  tons.     Built  1806.     James  Chase,  Master. 

Edmund   Hathaway  and    Guilford   Dudley  Hathaway,  owners.     Sold 

1811. 
Sloop  Unicorn.     69  tons.     Built  1807.     George  C.  Briggs,  Master. 

George   C.    Briggs,    Benjamin  Weaver  and   Ebenezer   Peirce,  owners. 

Sold  Bristol,  1809. 
Schooner  Betsey.     86  tons.     Built  1807.     Nathaniel  Briggs,  Master. 

Nathaniel  Briggs,  Josephas  Briggs  and  Gilbert  Staples,  owners.     For 

eign  from  Georgetown,  1817. 
Sloop  Jane.     64  tons.     Built  1807.     Allen  Chase,  Master. 

Allen  Chace  and  Gilbert  Chace,  owners.     Sold  New  Bedford,  1810. 
Sloop  Roema.     46  tons.     Builc  1808.     John  Read,   Master. 

Robert  Porter  and  Henry  Porter,  owners.     Sold  New  Bedford,  1809. 
Sloop  Ann  Matilda.     68  tons. 

Gilbert  Chace,  Master  and  owner.     Sold  1809. 
Sloop  William.     51  tons.      Built  1809.     John  Read,  :Master. 

Ephraim   Merrick,   John   Read  and   Isaac   Merrick,   owners.     Foreign 

trade  1811. 
Schooner  Mary.     68  tons.     Built  1809.     George  Dean,  Master. 

Benjamin   Dean   of  Freetown  and  William  Nichols  of  Troy,  owners. 

Sold  Providence,  1823. 
Sloop  Angenora.     48  tons.     Built  1809.     Philip  Tew,  Master. 

Ambrose   Barnaby,  Hathaway,  Silas   Hathaway  and   Isaac   N. 

Hathaway,  owners.     Last  at  Newburn,  1811. 
Sloop  Eagle.     48  tons.     Built   1809. 

Job  Payne,  Master  and  owner. 
Sloop  Eudora.     49  tons.     Built  1810.     Benjamin  Chace,  I\Iaster. 

Philip  Hathaway,  owner.     Sold  1815. 
Sloop  Cohannet.     32  tons.     Built  1810. 

Augustus  Chace,  Master  and  owner.     Broken  up  1829. 

Schooner  Cincinnatus.     82  tons.     Built  1810. 

James  L.  Valentine,  Master  and  owner.    Sailed  from  Newport,  Decem- 
ber 25,  1810  and  lost  at  sea. 
Sloop  Henry.     62  tons.     Built  1810. 

John  Read,  Master  and  owner.     Last  at  Savannah,  1818. 
Sloop  Polly.     22  tons.     Built .     George  Chace,  Master. 

George  Chace,  Augustus  Chace  and  Job   Peirce,  owners.     Broken  up 

1838. 
Schooner  Merino.     73  tons.     Built  1810.     Benjamin  H.  Lawton,   Master. 

Benjamin   H.    Lawton,   John   Terry,   Silas  Terry,    Earl  Sampson  and 

heirs  of  John  Hinds,  owners.     Sold  Newport,  1818. 
Sloop  Mercaton.     49  tons.     Built  1811.     George  C.  Briggs,  blaster. 

Ebenezer  Peirce  and  Joseph  Weaver,  owners.     Sold  1851. 

183 


Schooner  Meleta.     148  tons.     Built  1811.     John  Eddy,  Master. 

Isaac  Merrick,  David  Terry,  Samuel  Hathaway  and  Thomas   Randall, 

owners.     Last  at  Philadelphia,  1815. 
Schooner  Aurora.     129  tons.     Built  1811.     Anson  Bliffins,  Master. 

Anson    Bliflfins,    Robert  Strobridge  and  Stephen  B.   Pickens,   owners. 

Foreign  from  New  York,  1817. 
Sloop  Mary  Ann.     39  tons.      Built  1812.     John  Briggs,  Jr.,  Master. 

Allen  Chace,  part  owner.     Last  at  Newport,  1817. 
Sloop  Lily.     37  tons.     Built  1812.      Benjamin  H.  Lawton,  Master. 

Benjamin  H.  Lawton,  Joshua  and  Seth  Rowland,   owners.     Sold  1815. 
Sloop  Swallow.     44  tons.     Built  1812.     Ebenezer  Payne,  2d,  Master. 

John  and  Silas  Terry,  owners.     Last  at  Newport,  1815. 
Sloop  Ann  Eliza.     35  tons.     Built  1813.     William  Sekell,  Master. 

John  Cudworth,  part  owner.     Sold  1823. 
Sloop  Massachusetts.     41  tons.     Built  1813.     Robert  Strobridge,  Master. 

Robert  Strobridge  and  Thomas  Burbank,  part  owners.     Sold  1821. 
Sloop  Liberty.     35  tons.     Built  1813.     William  Sekell,  Master. 

William  Sekell  and  Ebenezer  Payne,  owners.     Sold  at  Newport  1817. 
Schooner  Friendship.     27  tons.     Built  1814. 

Cornelius  C.    Hamlin,    Master  and  owner.     Lost  near  Martha's  Vine- 
yard, Aug.  18,  1830. 
Sloop  Victory.     30  tons.     Built  1814.     Philip  Chace,  Master. 

Artemas  Willard,  owner.     Broken  up  1838. 
Sloop  Fame.     47  tons.     Built  1815.     John  Phillips,  Master. 

Edmund  Hathaway,  Augustus  Chase  and  John  Phillips,  owners.     Lost 

in  1816. 
Sloop  Rosette.     47  tons.     Built  1815.     Clothier  Hathaway,  Master. 

Samuel  Hathaway,  John  Hathaway  and   Isaac  Merrick,  owners.     Sold 

at   Bristol,  1815. 
Schooner  Cerena.      Built  1815.     Adino  Paddock,  Master. 

Adino  Paddock,   Earl  Sampson,  John  Nichols  and  Benjamin  Babbitt, 

owners.       Foreign  from  Wilmington,  1819. 
Schooner  Atalanta.     184  tons.     Built  1815.     James  Chace,  Master. 

Edmund  Hathaway,  owner. 
S!oop  General  Jackson.     36  tons.     Built  1816.     Thomas  J.  Evans,  Master. 

Guilford  H.  Hathaway,  James  W.  Hathaway  and  Guilford  Hathaway, 

owners.     Broken  up  1841. ' 
Schooner  Liberty.     66  tons.     Built  1816.     William  Hall,  Master. 

William   Hall,    David   Dean,   Ezra   Dean,    Olive   Hathaway,    Heirs  of 

Joseph  Nichols  and  Charles  Strange,  owners. 
Sloop  Roseta.     46  tons.     Built  1816.     Jason  Hathaway,  Master. 

Jason  Hathaway,  Peter  Nichols  and  Allen  Chace,  owners.     Sold  1824. 
Sloop  John  and  Philip.     67  tons.     Built  18 16.     Henry  Slade,  Master. 

John  H.  Pierce  and  Philip  P.  Hathaway,  owners.     Sold  in  New  York, 

1817. 

184 


Sloop  Sarah  Ann.     40  tons.     Built  1816.     Daniel  Burt,  Master. 

William   Carpenter,   owner.     Left    New    York,   December,    1818,    and 

lost  at  sea. 
Sloop  Planter.     55  tons.     Built  1816.     Philip  Lee,  Master. 

Stephen  Barnaby,  Philip,  Isaac  N.  and  John  Hathaway,  5th,  owners. 

Sold  at  Savannah,  1823. 
Brig  Atalanta.     IM  tons.     Built  1816. 

Edmund  Hathaway,   ^Master  and  owner.     Foreign   from   Wilmington, 

1819. 
Brig  Polander.     5)0  tons.     Milton  Andros,  Master. 

Condemned  and  sold  as  prize  at  Savannah,   181S.     John  Read,  owner. 

Again  sold  at  Brunswick,  Ga.,  1818. 
Sloop  Success.     33  tons.     Built  1816.     George  C.  Briggs,  Master. 

John  and  Silas  Terry,  owners.     Foreign  from  Newburn,  18'20. 
Sloop  Eliza.     39  tons.     Built  1816.     Augustus  C.  Barrows. 

A.  C   Barrows  and  Seth  P.  Williams,  owners.     Broken  up.  1841. 
Sloop  Martha  Jane.     30  tons.     Ephraim  Tisdale,  Master. 

Sylvanus  S.  Payne,  Allen  Chace,  Washington  Read,    Luther   Pickens 

and  Job  Payne,  owners. 
Sloop  Ruth.     47"tons.     Built  1817.      Seth  Wmslow,  Master. 

George  Pickens  and Pierce,  owners.     Lost  on  passage  Charles- 
ton to  Providence,  1819. 
Sloop  Union.     49  tons.     Built  1817.     John  Clark,  Master. 

John   Cudworth  and    Daniel    Douglass,   owners.     Sold  New  Bedford, 

1819. 
Schooner  Millenium.     108  tons.      Built  1817.     John  Clark,  Master. 

John  and  Richard  Clark,  owners.      Foreign  from  Newburn,  1820. 
Sloop  Wellington.     37  tons. 

John  Brown,  Master  and  owner.      Broken  up  at  Assonet,  1843. 
Schooner  Susan.     118  tons.      Built  1817.       Nathaniel   Briggs,  ^Master. 

Edmund  Hathaway  and  Josephas  Briggs.  owners.     Went  foreign  from 

Alexandria,  1828. 
Sloop  Jane.     33  tons.     Benjamin  H.  Lawton,  Jr.,  Master. 

John  Cudworth  and  Benjamin  H.  Lawton,  Jr.,  owners.     Sold  1826. 
Schooner  Washington.     63  tons.     Built  1817.     Adino  Paddock,  Master. 

Adino  Paddock,  William  Winslow  and  Benjamin    Burt,  owners.     For- 
eign from  Newport,  1824. 
Brig  Enterprise.     Timothy  Lewis,  Master. 

Guilford   H.    Hathaway,    ex.    of   estate   of   Edmund    Hathaway,    sole 

owner.     Sold  at  Bristol,  R.  I  ,  1885. 
Schooner  Susan.     US  tons.     Built  1817.     Anson  Bliffins,  Master. 

Nathaniel  Briggs  of  Freetown  and  Joseph  Badge  of  Boston,  owners. 

Sold  at  Newbern,  1827. 
Schooner  Betsey.     172  tons.     Anson  Bliffins,  Master. 

Edmund  Hathaway,  owner.     Lost  1828. 

185 


Schooner  Ephraim.     73  tons. 

Josephas  Briggs,  Master  and  part  owner.   Foreign  from  Newport,  1832 
vSloop  Phebe  Ann.     88  tons.     Edmund  Briggs,  Master. 

Joseph  Briggs,  owner.     Sold  1822. 
Sloop  Hen.     Built  1818.     Benjamin  Porter,  Jr.,  Master. 

John  Nichols  and  Earl  Sampson,  owners.     Sold  1838. 
Schooner  Rose  in  Bloom.     66  tons.     Built  1818.    Jacob  Brightman,  Master. 

Robert  Strobridge  and  Ephraim  Merrick,  owners.     Sold  1822. 
Brig  Betsey.     142  tons.     Built  1819.     Elisha  L.  Pratt,  Master. 

Edmund  Hathaway,  owner.     Foreign  from  Wilmington,  1820. 

Schooner  John  and  Mary.    56  tons.      Built  1819.     Henry  Cleveland,  Master. 

Henry  Cleveland,  ot  Troy ;  Abraham  Ashley,    Jr  ,    Charles  Crapo  and 

Job  Terry,  owners.     Sold  1822. 
Sloop  Sea  Flower.     88  tons.     Built  1821.     Welcome  Hathaway,  Master. 

Welcome   Hathaway,   Jason   Hathaway  and  Thomas  J.   Lee,  owners. 

Sold  1823. 
Sloop  Infant.     31  t')n-;.      Built  1821.     George  Chace,  Master. 

Augustus  Chace,  owner      Broken  up,  1842. 
Sloop  Rising  Sun.     Built   1821. 

Artemas  Willard,  Master  and  owner.      Sold  1832. 
Sloop  Elenor.     49  tons.     Built  1822.     William  Sekell,  Master. 

William  Sekell,  S.  S.  Payne,  Noah  P.  Hathaway  and  Job  Pierce,  own- 
ers.    Sold  at  New  Bedford,  1835. 
Schooner  Good  Return.     105  tons.     Built  1822.     Richard  Clark,  Jr.,  Master. 

John,  Jesse,  Richard  and  Richard  Clark,  Jr.,  owners.      Foreign  1828. 

Also  Job  Terry,  Master. 
Sloop  Morning  Star.     46  tons.      Built  1823.     Ephraim  Tisdale,  Master. 

Ebenezer  Payne  and  Sylvanus  S.  Payne,  owners. 
Sloop  Trader.     86  tons.     George  Dean,  Master. 

George  Dean  and  Gershom  Burr,  owners.       Sold  1835. 
Sloop  Fair  Play.     86  tons.     Built  1823.     Edmund  D.   Hathaway,  Master. 

Edmund  D.,  Guilford  and  James  Hathaway,  owners.     Sold  1833. 

Sloop  Fairhaven.     44  tons.     Built  1824.     Guilford  H.  Evans,  Master. 

Edmund   Hathaway,   Guilford   H.    Evans  and   David   Evans,  owners. 

Sold  at  Providence  1828. 
Sloop  Providence.     38  tons.     Built  1824.     James  M.  Hathaway,  Master. 

James  M.  Hath  iway,  Peter  Nichols,   Dean  Durfee,  George  Dean  and 

Sumner  Briggs,  owners.     Sold  at  Providence,  1826. 
Sloop  Three  Brothers.     65  tons.     Built  1825.     George  Dean,  Master. 

George  Dean,  Benjamin  Dean,  Joseph   Durfee,  Laban  Smith  and  Job 

Pierce,    owners.     Named   for   the   three   brothers,    John,    (reorge  and 

Benjamin  Deane.     Sold  1881. 
Sloop  Hannah.     85  tons.      Benjamin  I.  Brown,   Master. 

Broken  up,  1829. 

186 


Sloop  Boliver.     45  tons.     Built  1826.     Allen  Payne,  Master. 

Allen  Payne,  George  Dean  and  William  Sekell,  owners.  Sold  at  St. 
Mary's,  1839. 

Sloop  Argo.     44  tons.     Built  1828.     Benjamin  H.  Lawton,  Master. 
Benj.  Terry  and  William  Strobridge,  owners.     Sold  1833. 

Sloop  Sapello.     71  tons.     Built  1828.     Welcome  Hathaway,  Master. 

Benjamin  Dean,  Jr.,  George  Dean,  Welcome  Hathaway  and  Joseph 
Durfee,  Jr.,  owners.     Sold  Aug.   16,  1839. 

Sloop  Marshall.     70  tons.     Allen  Chace,  Master. 

Allen  Chace  and  George  Dean,  owners.     Sold  1834. 

Sloop  Merchant.     62  tons.     Built  1829.     Franklin  Briggs,  Master. 

Franklin  Briggs,  Job  Pierce,  Guilford  H.  Hathaway,  Ambrose  W. 
Hathaway  and  Samuel  R.  Bragg,  owners. 

Sloop  Ann  Maria.     65  tons.     Built  1829.     Nathaniel  Briggs,  Master. 

Nathaniel  Briggs,  Benjamin  Dean,  George  Dean,  and  Adino  Pad- 
dock, owners.  Lost  at  sea.  All  hands  lost.  When  last  seen  Captain 
Briggs  was  scudding  before  a  gale  of  wind  off  Cape  Hatteras. 

Sloop  Macon.     67  tons.     Built  1830.     William  Hall,  Master. 

William  Hall,  Job  Pierce  and  Joseph  Durfee,  Jr.,  owners.     Sold  1835. 

Schooner  John  Henry.     110  tons.     Built  1832.     George  Henry,  Master. 
John  G.  Burns  and  New  York  owners.     Sold  at  New  York,  1838. 

Sloop  Franklin.     32  tons.     Built   1832.     Allen   Payne,    Master   and  owner. 
Sold  1853. 

Schooner  Caroline.     60  tons.     Joseph  F.  Bliffins,  Master. 
Philip  H.  Evans,  owner.     Sold  at  Provincetown,  1847. 

Schooner  Canton.     110  tons.     Built  1832.     George  W.  Gibbs,  Master. 

Sloop  Wave.    40  tons.     Built  1833.     Stephen  B.  Baruaby,  Master. 
Stephen  B.  Barnaby  and  Stephen  Barnaby,  owners.     Sold  1841. 

Sloop  Science.     Built  1833.     James  Burr,   Master. 

James  Burr,  Job  Pierce  and  Joseph  Durfee,  Jr.,  owners.  Sold  Savan- 
nah, 1836. 

Schooner  Cashier.     74  tons.     Built  1834.     Allen  Payne,  Master. 

Allen  Payne,  Joseph  Durfee,  Job  Pierce,  and  S.  S.  Payne,  owners. 
Went  ashore  at  Kill  Devil  Hill  near  Cape  Hatteras,  1837.  Sold  Eliza- 
beth City,  1837. 

Sloop  William  Wray.     60  tons.     Madison  Durfee,  Master. 
Madison  Durfee  and  John  Brown,  owners.     Sold  1841. 

Sloop  Actor.     25  tons.     Franklin  Briggs,  Master. 

Franklin  Briggs  and  Job  Pierce,  owners.     Sold  at  New  York,  1848. 

Sloop  Hamilton.     33  tons.     Augustus  C.  Barrows,  Master. 

Augustus  C.  Barrows,  George  Dean  and  James  W.  Hathaway,  owners. 

Sloop  Independence.     35  tons.     James  Dean,  Master. 

Benjamin  Dean,  owner.  Bought  at  Taunton,  Mass.  Last  at  New- 
port, 1851.     Sold. 

187 


Schooner  President.     82  tons.     Built  1834.     Simeon  Coombs,  Jr. ,   Master. 
Luther  Cudworth,   John   Dean,    Benjamin  Dean,   Welcome  Hathaway 
and  Guilford  H.  Hathaway,  owners.     Sold. 
Built  for  Captain  Luther  Cudworth. 

Schooner  Florida.     82  tons.     Built  1834      Samuel  Pridham,  Master. 

Samuel  Pridham,  George  Dean  and  Franklin  Briggs,  owners.  Sold 
Brunswick,  Ga.,  1858.      Built  for  Captain    Franklin  Briggs. 

Sloop  Mary  Elizabeth.     Built  1834.     Henry  M.  Chace,  Master. 
Tisdale  Briggs,  sole  owner.     Sold  at  Newport,  1864. 
Built  by  David  Robinson  at  Robinson's  Shore. 
Also,  Allen  Payne.  Master. 

Schooner  Virginia.     133  tons.     Built  1836.     Thomas  Andros,  Master. 

Job  Pierce,   George   W.    Hall,    William   Hall,  Allen    Chase,    Welcome 

Hathaway,   and  Allen   Payne,   part  owners.     Last  at   Bristol  in  1848. 

Sold. 

Built  for  Captain  William  Hall. 

Schooner  Alexander  M.     142  tons.     Built  1837.     William  Pratt,   2d,    Mas- 
ter. 

William  Pratt,  2d,  George  Dean,  John  Dean,  2d,  Benjamin  Dean  and 
Franklin  Briggs,  owners.     Last  at  New  Bedford,  1843.     Sold. 

Sloop  Osterville.     31  tons.     Augustus  C.  Barrows,  Master. 

A.  C.  Barrows,  Joseph  Durfee,  Jr.,  Job  Payne,  Jr.  and  Job  Pierce, 
owners.     Broken  up  at  Assonet. 

Sloop  Company.     63  tons.     Built  1838.     James  W.  Burr,  Master. 

James  W.  Burr,  Job  Pierce  and  James  Burr,  part  owners.  Sloop  Com- 
pany rig  changed  to  schooner  1841.     Last  at  Savannah,  1851.     Sold. 

1st  Paper.     Sloop  Bristol      31  tons.      Built  1838.     Edmund  D.   Hathaway, 
Master. 

Also  Henry  M.  Chace,  Master.  E.  D  Hathaway,  Guilford  H.  Hath- 
away, Thomas  Evans,  Luther  Cudworth  and  James  W.  Hathaway, 
owners.  Driven  ashore  by  ice  during  the  winter  of  1899  at  Gardner's 
Neck,  Swansea,  and  broken  up. 

Sloop  Pinion.     39  tons.     Henry  M.  Chace,  Master. 

Philip  H.  Evans,  owner.     Lost  at  Watch  Hill,  1857. 

Sloop  Glide.     34  tons. 

Philip  H.  Evans,  Master  and  owner. 

Also  Henry  M.  Chace,  Master.     Broken  up  at  AsscMiet. 

Barque  Harriet.     147  tons.     Built  1808.    James  Madison  Durfee,  Master. 

John  D.  Wilson,  Alden  Hatheway,  Job  Terry,  James  M.  Durfee,  Job 

Peirce,    George   Dean,    Charles    Hathaway,   Ambrose   W.    Hathaway, 

Barnaby  Hathaway,  Welcome  Hathaway,   Robert   Porter,  John    Mac- 

omber,  John  Crane  and   Benjamin  Dean  of  Freetown,  Isaiah  Winslow, 

Robert   P.   Strobridge,   Joseph   P.    Haskins  and    Frederick   Seekel  of 

Middleboro,  Philip  Durfee  and  Benjamin  Almy  of  Providence,  owners. 

The  Harriet  was  fitted  out  at   Winslow's  Rocks,  near  the  mouth  of  the 

Assonet  river  for  a  whaling  voyage.     The  investment  proved  to  be  an 

unlucky   one   for  her    owners.     She  was  condemned  at   Pernambuco, 

Brazil,  in  1848. 

188 


Barque    Elizabeth.      349   tons.       Built   at   Waldoboro,    Me.,   1S:38.      Elisha 
Gifford,  Master. 

Elnathan  P.  Hatheway,  Franklin  Briggs,  Job  Peirce,  John  D.  Wilson, 
Benjamin  Dean,  John  Dean,  George  Dean,  Welcome  Hathaway,  Gideon 
P.  Hathaway,  Davis  J.  Barrowp,  James  Burr,  James  W.  Hathaway, 
Edmund  D.  Hathaway  and  Guilford  Hathaway  of  Freetown,  Alonzo 
Davenport  of  New  Bedford,  Clothier  Allen,  John  Allen  Jr.,  John  C. 
Haskins  and  Joseph  Haskins  of  Middleboro,  owners. 

This  was  one  of  the  two  whale  ships  fitted  out  at  Freetown,  the 
venture  in  both  cases  proving  disastrous,  and  very  disheartening  to 
their  owners.  The  Elizabeth  was  twice  fitted  out  at  Hathaway's  wharf 
in  the  Narrows.  She  first  sailed  in  1841.  On  this  voyage  an  entire 
boat's  crew  of  six,  including  the  captain,  were  lost.  When  last  seen 
from  the  ship  they  were  fast  to  a  whale.  A  fog  came  up  and  shut  them 
out  of  view;  in  the  morning  their  boat  was  found  bottom  up.  The 
names  of  the  unfortunate  sailors  were  Bradford  W.  Winslow,  captain, 
son  of  John  Winslow;  Benjamin  Hall,  son  of  William  Hall;  George  S. 
Evans,  son  of  Thomas  Evans;  and  William  H.  Thresher,  son  of  Henry 
Thresher,  all  of  Assonet,  and  David  Hathaway,  boatsteerer,  son  of 
Russell  Hathaway  and  Daniel  Reed,  son  of  George  Reed,  both  of  Steep 
Brook.     The  date  of  this  sad  event  was  June  IT,  1848. 

She  sailed  on  her  second  and  last  voyage  July  4,  1844.  Elisha 
Gifford,  Master.  She  was  burned  at  the  Fiji  Islands  in  1846.  Two  of 
the  young  men  of  the  village  that  were  numbered  with  her  crew, 
Charles,  son  of  Hampton  Pierce,  and  Thomas  W.  Pierce  Jr.,  never 
returned  home.     The  latter  died  of  sunstroke  near  Sacramento,  Cal. 

Sloop  Nation.     27  tons.     Built  1840.     Bayliss  Hathaway,  Master. 
Welcome  and  Jason  Hathaway,  owners. 
Last  at  Providence  in  1852. 

Schooner  John  P.  Collins.     89  tons.     James  W.  Burr,  Master. 
James  W.  Burr  and  James  Burr,  part  owners. 

Sloop  Alabama.     95  tons.     Built  1840.      Edwin  Harris,  Master. 

Edwin  Harris,  Stephen  B.  Barnaby,  James  W.  Hathaway,  Guilford 
Hathawa}-,  F.  S.  Hathaway,  Thomas  T.  Hathaway,  Thomas  Evans, 
Edward  D.  Hathaway,  John  Winslow  and  Guilford  H.  Hathaway, 
owners.     Last  at  New  York  in  184;S. 

Sloop  Eagle.     22  tons.     John  Brown,  Master  and  owner. 
Broken  up  at  Assonet  in  1856. 

Sloop  America.     5()  tons.     Daniel  C.  Brown,  Master  and  owner. 
Disappeared  from  the  records  in  1848 

Schooner  Imperial.     156  tons.     Built  1841.     Joseph  H.  Read,  Master. 

Joseph  H.  Read,  John  Dean  2d,  Benjamin  Dean,  Guilford  H.  Hath- 
away, Edward  O.  Hathaway,  John  D.  Wilson  and  Charles  W.  Hath- 
away, owners.     Disappeared  in  1847.     Sold. 

Sloop  Chief.     28  tons.     James  L.  Robinson,  Master. 

James  L.  Robinson  and  Job  Terry,  owners.     Sold  in  1S48 

189 


Sloop  J.  Pierce.     48  tons.     Built  1843.     George  Dean,  Master. 

George   Dean,  John   D.  Wilson  and  Job  Peirce,  owners.     Sold  in  Rock- 
land in  1856. 
Abner  Winslow  was  the  boss  carpenter  in  building  this  sloop. 

Sloop  Narragansett,  35  tons.     Peleg  Barker,  Master. 

Thomas  L.  Robinson  of  Boston,  owner.     Broken  up  in  1864. 

Schooner  John   K.   Randall.      144   tons.      Built    1847.     William    Williams, 
Master. 

George  Dean,  Benjamin  Dean,  Job  Peirce  and  John  D.  Wilson,  owners. 
Last  at  New  Bedford  in  1851.     Sold. 
Built  for  Captain  George  Dean,  at  the  ship  yard  on  Water  Street. 

Schooner  Carrier.     143  tons.     Built  1848.     Ehsha  Gibbs,  Master. 

Elisha  Gibbs,  John  D.  Wilson,  Luther  Cudworth,  Job  Peirce,  Wel- 
come Hathaway,  Guilford  H.  Hathaway,  Benjamin  Dean  and  John 
Dean,  owners. 

Built  for  Captain  Luther  Cudworth  at  the  ship  yard  on  Water  street. 
The  last  vessel  built  in  Freetown.  Altered  into  a  Brigantine  in  1851. 
Sunk  in  a  collision  olT  the  New  Jersey  coast  in  1853.  Loaded  with 
sugar  for  New  York.  A  total  loss.  The  crew  escaped  in  the  vawl 
boat,  which  was  sent  to  Assonet.  The  last  vessel  hailing  from  Free- 
town that  engaged  in  foreign  trade. 

Schooner  Mary  A.  Rowland.     109  tons.     James  W.  Burr,  Master. 

James  W.  Burr,  James  Burr  and  William  Read,  part  owners  Sold 
at  Providence  in  1863. 

Captain  Burr  was  engaged  in  the  Southern  carrying  trade  at  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion. 

Schooner  Charles  W.  Bentley.     119  tons.     William  Read.  Master. 

William  Read,  Luther  Cudworth,  George  W.  Hall  and  James  Burr, 
owners.     Sold  in  1862. 

Captain  Read  was  in  Charleston,  S.  C,  just  before  the  firing  upon  P'ort 
Sumter.  One  evening  he  overheard  a  whispered  conversation  on  the 
dock  about  the  seizing  of  his  vessel  the  next  day.  He  cut  loose  that 
night  and  escaped. 

Schooner  Challenge.     104  tons.     George  N.  Bailey,  Master. 

George  N.  Bailey,  Joshua  A.  Smith,  Jabez  Smith,  Joseph  W.  Smith, 
Benjamin  G.  Rogers,  Reuel  Strickland,  Joshua  Crandell,  Edward  Ash- 
ley, Franklin  Potter,  Josiah  Wyman  of  New  London,  Luther  Pickens, 
Luther  Cudworth,  George  W.  Pickens  of  Freetown,  and  Washington 
Read  of  Providence,  owners.     Sold. 

This  schooner,  Benjamin  F.  Pickens,  Master,  escaped  from  Charleston 
harbor  just  before  the  firing  upon  Fort  Sumter,  in  April,  1S61.  She 
was  iired  upon  by  the  rebel  batteries  on  shore  as  she  passed  out  of  the 
harbor. 

Schooner  J.  Truman.     117  tons.     Samuel  Pridham,  Master. 

Samuel  Pridham,  George  Dean,  Franklin  Briggs,  Thomas  Leeburn, 
Luther  Pickens,  George  W.  Pickens,  Luther  Cudworth  and  William 
Read,  owners.     Sold  at  New  Bedford  in  1S62. 

190 


Just  before  the  firing  upon  Fort  Sumter  Captain  Pridhan:  was  at  Savan- 
nah Ga.,  loaded  with  rough  rice  for  Charleston,  S.  C.  He  was  quite 
undecided  for  a  time  whether  to  go  to  Charleston  and  deliver  the  rice 
or  come  North  with  it.  He  finally  went  to  Charleston,  unloaded,  and 
then  came  home.  In  passing  out  of  Charleston  harbor  two  shots  were 
fired  at  him  from  the  rebel  batteries  on  shore.  One  cannon  ball  passed 
between  the  masts,  the  wind  of  it  knocking  the  cook  down. 

Sloop  Rosetree.     26  tons.      Augustus  C.  Barrows,  Master  and  owner. 
Broken  up  at  Assonet  in  1SG6. 

Sloop  A.  E.  Watkins.     26  tons.     Benjamin  F.  Luther,  Master. 

Benjamin  F.  Luther  and  Welcome  H.  Richmond,  owners.  Sold  at 
Newport  in  1884. 

Sloop  Zebra.     87  tons.      Robert  Porter,  Master  and  owner.     Sold. 

On  the  night  of  July  8,  18T0,  this  vessel  was  anchored  near  the  mouth 
of  Joshua's  Channel.  A  high  wind  coming  up  Captain  Porter,  Captain. 
William  Read  and  Robert  Jenkins  (colored),  who  were  on  board,  started 
to  put  out  an  extra  anchor.  They  lashed  it  to  the  stern  of  a  skiff  boat. 
As  soon  as  they  pushed  off  from  the  vessel  the  boat  was  swamped  and 
carried  to  the  bottom  by  the  anchor.  Captain  Porter,  as  he  drifted  by 
the  vessel,  caught  hold  of  the  bobstay  and  hauled  himself  -on  board. 
In  the  darkness  he  could  not  see  his  companions,  but  he  heard  Captain 
Read  say,  as  the  current  swept  him  past  the  vessel,  "throw  me  a  line." 
Captain  Read  and  Robert  Jenkins  were  drowned.  Their  bodies  were 
recovered. 

Schooner  Addie  Randall.     40  tons.     Alfred  B.  Davis,  blaster  and  owner. 
Broken  up  at  Assonet  in  1902. 
The  last  vessel  to  hail  from  Freetown. 


WELCOME    HATHAWAY    HOMESTEAD 

191 


SHII'PIXG    AND    COMMERCE. 

Before  the  advent  of  railroads  freighting  was  largely 
done  by  water.  The  vessels  took  their  cargoes  as  far 
inland  as  possible,  after  which  the  merchandise  was  sent 
to  its  destination  by  teams,  mostly  ox  teams.  For  this 
reason  the  head  of  navigation  on  a  river  easy  of  approach 
and  ascent  was  quite  likely  to  become  an  important  and 
busy  trading  point.  Such  was  Assonet  Village  seventy 
and  more  years  ago  when  it  was  no  unusual  thing  to  see 
more  than  a  score  of  vessels  tied  to  the  wharves  or 
anchored  in  th$  bay;  and  long  strings  of  teams  coming 
.in  from  Fall  River.  Taunton,  Middleboro,  and  other 
places  with  manufactured  articles,  wood  and  farm  produce, 
for  shipment  to  Providence,  Newport,  New  York,  or  for- 
eign ports;  and  going  out  with  sugar,  molasses,  salt, 
flour,  rum,  and  other  domestic  and  foreio-n  o'oods  for 
inland  traders  or  home  consumption.  The  iron  railing 
used  in  building  the  Arcade  at  Providence,  R.  I.,  is  said 
to  have  been  made  at  the  East  Freetown  furnace,  and 
sent  to  its  destination  via  Assonet.  At  times  the  lower 
wharves  and  also  Lawton's  wharf  would  be  well  covered 
with  hogsheads  of  molasses,  and  other  merchandise  await- 
ing sale  and  transportation  inland.  Occasionally  the  river 
would  be  dotted  with  pine  apples,  oranges,  limes  and 
other  decaying  tropical  fruits  that  had  been  thrown  over- 
board from  vessels  engaged  in  the  West  India  trade. 
Heavily  laden  vessels  would  have  a  part  of  their  cargo 
lightered  at  Joshua's  channel  after  which  they  would  pro- 
ceed to  the  wharves.  Captain  Edmund  Hathaway,  an 
owner  in  several  of  the  Freetown  vessels,  was  at  one  time 
largely  engaged  in  the  West  India  trade.  He  was  assisted 
by  his  son,  Guilford  H.  Hathaway,  one  of  whose  duties 
was  to  ride  over  to  Dighton  on  horseback  and  pay  the 
customs  or  duties  on  the  imported  goods.  He  has  often 
told  that  he  paid  more  duties  at  the  Dighton  Custom 
House  in  one  year,  than  was  paid  by  any  other  three 
towns  in  the   Dighton  Customs  District.      While  manv  of 


the  smaller  craft  engaged  in  freighting  wood,  lumber  and 
other  commodities  to  Providence  and  Newport,  or  mer- 
chandise between  New  York,  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore 
and  near-by  ports,  there  was  quite  a  fleet  of  the  larger 
vessels  that  engaged  in  winter  in  the  southern  carrying 
trade,  that  is,  the  carrying  of  rough  rice,  cotton,  cotton 
seed  and  other  goods  between  Darien,  Brunswick,  and 
Savannah,  Ga.,  and  Charleston,  S.  C.  This  fleet  had  been 
reduced  to  four  schooners  when  the  war  of  the  rebellion 
broke  out  in  18H1,  and  put  an  end  to  it,  probably  forever. 

Darien,  Ga.,  was  the  rendezvous  for  the  Assonet  peo- 
ple engaged  in  this  freighting,  as  well  as  for  several  trad- 
ers who  with  their  supplies  took  passage  south  on  these 
vessels  and  opened  places  of  business  there ;  returning  on 
them  in  the  spring.  The  season  lasted  from  September 
to  May. 

The  trading  at  Darien  was  largely  with  the  Georgia 
* 'Crackers,"  a  class  of  poor  whites  that  in  the  fall  of  the 
year  drifted  slowly  down  the  long  rivers  from  the  interior 
of  the  state  on  home-made  rafts  of  lumber  which  they 
managed  with  long  poles  and  sweeps.  This  lumber  and 
such  farm  produce  as  they  could  bring  with  them  on  their 
rafts,  would  be  converted  into  money  on  their  arrival  at 
the  seaboard.  They  would  remain  in  the  coast  cities  until 
spring,  or  until  the  low  state  of  their  finances  compelled 
them  to  depart  for  home.  The  journey  back  often  had  to 
be  made  on  foot. 

The  plank  used  in  making  the  floor  of  the  large  barn 
on  Water  street,  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Ambrose  Dean,  was 
taken  from  one  of  these  rafts,  the  numerous  augur  holes 
in  it,  showing  where  the  planks  were  pinned  together. 

Welcome  H.  Richmond  and  Charles  H.  Read  are 
pi'obably  the  only  persons  at  present  living  in  Assonet 
Village,  and  Nathaniel  Braley,  George  Braley,  Jason  Pitts- 
ley  and  Warren  Pittsley  at  East  Freetown,  who  had  any 
part  in  this  southern  business. 

19:^, 


During  the  war  of  1812,  our  ports  being  blockaded, 
Captain  James  Burr,  who  was  at  that  time  master  of  one 
of  the  vessels  engaged  in  the  southern  trade,  drove  a  six 
horse  team,  loaded  with  shoes,  from  Boston  to  Charles- 
ton, S.  C.  On  his  way  he  passed  through  Washington, 
D.  C,  leaving  that  city  but  a  few  days  before  the  public 
buildings  were  burned  by  British  soldiers.  On  his  return 
he  brought  a  load  of  cotton.  By  trading  horses  often  he 
kept  his  team  in  good  condition,  and  did  not  have  one  of 
his  original  horses  on  his  arrival  home.  During  the  sum- 
mer months  the  vessels  of  this  southern  fleet  were  refitted 
at  Assonet,  giving  employment  to  inany  of  its  citizens. 
vSometimes  they  would  make  one  or  two  coaling  trips  to 
Philadelphia  or  Baltimore  before  returning  south.  If  no 
cargo  could  be  obtained  to  take  south,  they  would  go  out 
in  ballast.  The  winter's  supply  of  corn,  fiour  and  other 
goods  for  the  village  and  its  immediate  vicinity  was  stored 
every  fall,  before  the  closing  up  of  the  river  by  ice,  in  the 
building  now  standing  on  the  lower  wharf  and  known  as 
the  corn  store.  The  firm  of  Peirce  and  Wilson  was  the 
last  one  to  use  this  building  for  this  purpose.  There  was 
also  a  corn  store  at  the  Fall  River  road  bridge.  About 
sixty  years  ago  the  two  lower  floors  of  this  building  were 
utilized  as  a  dwelling,  and  the  upper  floor  as  a  dance  hall. 
Then  and  for  many  years  thereafter  Mr.  Nathaniel  Porter 
of  East  Bridgewater  was  the  favorite  dancing  master  for 
the  village,  and  the  well  remembered  phrase  "All  ready, 
Air.  Porter,"  originated  in  this  hall,  and  was  repeated  at 
Deane's  hall  on  Water  street  for  many  years  by  the  floor 
directors  of  the  annual  dancing  school.  These  annuals 
were  always  terminated  with  a  grand  ball  and  turkey  .sup- 
per, in  which  Mr.  Porter  was  assisted  by  his  nephew,  Mr. 
Fuller,  as  second  violin,  and  a  Mr.  Pratt  as  cornetist.  No 
better,  more  respected  or  more  beloved  musicians  ever 
played  in  the  village  than  this  trio.  Porter,  Fuller  and 
Pratt.  The  turkey  suppers  were  soinetimes  served  at 
Benjamin  Deane's,  and  sometimes  at  John  Deane's.      Ben- 

194 


jamin  owned  the  hall  and  enjoyed  daneing ;  John  was 
always  a  spectator  except  when  called  upon  to  dance  "the 
broom  stick,"  a  dance  that  no  other  man  could  ever  exe- 
cute without  making  a  misstep  or  tripping  over  the  crossed 
brooms. 

This  upper  corn  store  and  a  cottage  next  south  of  it 
were  burned  in  188r>.  The  roof  of  the  South  church  was 
ignited  by  the  flying  sparks.  Fortunately  this  was  discov- 
ered in  time  to  save  the  building.  Deane's  Hall  was  built 
in  1847.  It  was  sold  and  altered  into  a  machine  shop  in 
18H1>,  and  became  the  gun  shop  in  ls73.  All  this  com- 
mercial activity  has  departed  from  along  the  river  front, 
and  not  a  single  vessel  is  owned  in  the  town  at  the  pres- 
ent time.  Several  of  the  wharves  are  very  much  out  of 
repair,  and  are  no  longer  used  as  such.  It  is  many  years 
since  a  vessel  has  tied  to  the  upper  or  Winslow's  wharf, 
the  longest  wharf  on  the  river.  Its  caplog  has  now  disap- 
peared, and  its  wall  is  fast  slipping  out  into  the  river. 
Lawton's  wharf  is  in  good  repair,  and  a  load  of  wood  is 
occasionally  taken  from  it  by  an  out  of  town  craft.  Rod- 
man's wharf  is  in  fair  repair,  but  is  not  u.sed  as  such,  hav- 
ing been  fenced  in.  Welcome's  wharf  is  fast  going  to 
destruction.  Time,  tides  and  ice  have  destroved  the  two 
easterly  sections  of  the  lower  wharves,  but  the  westerly 
section,  or  Nichols"  wharf  is  in  good  repair,  and  wood  and 
box  boards  are  occasionally  shipped  from  it.  Cudworth's 
wharf,  now  used  as  a  coal  and  lumber  yard  by  Cudworth 
&  Davis,  is  at  present  being  rebuilt.  Hathaway's  wharf  at 
the  Narrows,  where  the  whale  ship  Elizabeth  was  twice 
fitted  out  is  now  nothing  more  than  a  stone  heap.  Two 
or  three  parties  are  still  engaged  in  the  wood  business 
at  Assonet  Village,  most  of  their  wood  however  is  now  sent 
to  Fall  River  and  Newport  by  rail.  The  East  Freetown 
wood  dealers  ship  by  rail  to  New  Bedford  and  other  places, 
and  also  send  considerable  both  to  New  Bedford  and  to 
Fall  River  by  teams.  Within  a  few  years  large  quantities 
of  white  pine  has  been  cut  and  converted  into  lumber  at 

195 


portable  saw  mills,  especially  at  East  Freetown.  William 
Richardson  came  from  the  South  to  Assonet  when  a  young 
man,  and  settled  at  Slab  Bridge.  He  commenced  buying 
wood  land  and  dealing  in  wood.  Before  his  death  he  could 
cut  and  sell  a  cord  of  wood  every  day,  and  yet  never  own 
any  less  cords  of  wood,  the  growth  on  his  many  acres  being 
at  least  one  cord  per  day.  William  D.  Jenkins,  a  wealthy 
planter,  that  lived  near  Brunswick,  Ga.,  used  to  spend  his 
summers  at  Assonet,  sometimes  coming  and  going  with 
Capt.  James  W.  Burr,  on  his  vessel. 

TIIK    MARIXKRS. 

Freetown  having  been  largely  interested  in  ship 
building  and  commerce,  it  followed  as  a  natural  conse- 
quence that  many  of  its  citizens,  especially  the  younger 
men,  would  become  mariners.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that 
most  of  those  who  chose  a  sea-faring  life  soon  became 
masters  of  vessels,  and  many  of  them  became  noted,  both 
at  home  and  abroad,  as  highly  successful  navigators  of 
vessels  eng^ag^ed  in  the  coastwise,  and  also  in  the  foreio-n 
trade.  The  Rev.  Thomas  Andros,  of  Berkley,  who  lived 
on  a  farm  bordering  on  the  Freetown  line,  taught  naviga- 
tion at  his  home.  Undoubtedly  some  of  the  Assonet 
youths  availed  themselves  of  the  opportunity  to  study 
with  him.  Five  of  his  sons  became  masters  of  vessels 
in  the  merchant  service.  Two  of  them,  Thomas  Jr.  and 
Benedict,  became  residents  of  Assonet  Village,  marrying 
Sarah  and  Eunice,  daughters  of  Peter  Nichols,  black- 
smith. Thomas  was  for  a  time  eny^ao'ed  in  the  ct^astwise 
trade,  and  later  sailed  between  New  York  and  Mediter- 
ranean ports.  Benedict  for  several  years  sailed  between 
New  Orleans  and  Liverpool. 

Capt.  James  Chace  was  an  exceedingly  fortunate  and 
successful  navigator.  He  sailed  for  Captain  Edmund 
Hathaway.  It  was  the  pride  of  Captain  Chace  that  "he 
sailed  the  seas  for  forty  years,  made  thirty-three  trips  to 

196 


Bermuda,  and  never  lost  a  man  or  a  spar."  He  married 
Phebe  A.,  daughter  of  Augustus  Chace. 

As  master  of  a  whale  ship,  Captain  Henry  H.  Wins- 
low  made  two  voyages  from  New  York,  and  two  from 
Providence,  R.  I.  His  last  voyage  was  from  Providence, 
in  the  ship  Cassander.  While  in  the  South  Atlantic  he 
had  taken  from  another  ship  two  native  Africans  who  had 
been  decoyed  on  board.  The  crew,  in  jest,  told  these 
natives  that  the  captain  would  sell  them  when  he  got  into 
port.  Believing  this,  they  set  fire  to  the  ship  and  jumped 
overboard.  One  was  rescued,  the  other  plunged  a  sheath 
knife  into  his  side  as  he  went  overboard  and  was  not  seen 
again.  The  crew  were  obliged  to  take  to  the  boats,  and 
after  ten  days  of  suffering  and  hardship,  they  landed  on 
the  east  coast  of  South  America,  in  latitude  8»>  degrees. 
When  five  days  out  in  the  open  boats  they  fell  in  with  a 
Spanish  vessel,  but  the  captain  being  afraid  of  them,  re- 
fused to  take  them  on  board,  to  take  them  in  tow,  or  to 
assist  them  in  anv  manner.  During  a  gale  of  wind,  Cap- 
tain Winslow's  boat  was  capsized  and  its  occupants  were 
obliged  to  get  into  the  other  boats.  One  of  the  crew  died 
while  m  the  boats,  and  the  third  mate  was  drowned  in 
making  the  landing.  Captain  Winslow,  with  an  interpre- 
ter, made  his  way  forty  miles  on  the  beach,  and  ninety 
miles  farther  in  a  small  vessel,  to  a  port  where  he  secured 
a  vessel  to  go  to  the  assistance  of  his  crew.  At  this  time 
he  was  but  twenty-eight  years  of  age.  He  went  to  Cali- 
fornia soon  after  the  discovery  of  gold  in  that  state.  He 
returned  to  Assonet  several  years  ago,  and  today  is  the 
only  survivor  of  all  the  many  Freetown  captains  that  once 
so  proudly  and  nobly  trod  the  quarter  deck  of  a  sea- 
going vessel.  He  married  Mary  Ann,  daughter  of  Henry 
Porter. 

Captain  Job  (t.  Lawton,  on  one  of  his  many  voyages 
across  the  ocean,  lost  his  rudder  at  sea.  With  commend- 
able ingenuity  he  made  a  temporary  one  from  old  ropes, 
hung  and  managed    it  by  chains  passed  over   the   stern. 

u>7 


and  either  side  of  the  ship,  and  by  his  cool  determination 
and  never  tiring  perseverance  brought  his  sliip  safely  into 
port.  For  this  remarkable  feat  he  received  high  public 
commendation,  and  a  substantial  recognition  from  the 
insurance  companies  interested  in  his  vessel  and  her 
cargo.  vSeveral  models  of  this  rudder  are  now  in  exist- 
ence, one  being  on  exhibition  at  the  National  Museum 
in  Washington.  Another  was  shown  at  the  Loan  Exhibi- 
tion, Old  Home  week.  He  married  Polly,  daughter  of 
Captain  Charles  vStrange. 


CAPT.    WASHINGTON    READ. 

Captain  Washington  Read  followed  the  sea  fifty-two 
years,  commencing  as  cabin  bov  for  his  father  when  nine 
years  of  age.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  he  commanded  a 
sloop  which  plied  between  Fall  River,  Providence  and 
Newport,  and  in  all  sailed  as  master  of  sixteen  different 
vessels.  In  the  ship  Caroline  Read,  named  for  his  wife. 
(Caroline,  daughter  of  Allen  Chace),  he  circumnavigated 
the  globe.      Starting  from   New  York   in   1850,  being  then 

198 


RESIDENCE    OF     RALPH     H      FRANCIS. 
David    A      Leonard,   Grandfather   of    Hon     John    Hay,    Secretary    of   State. 


BUILT   BY   ELDER   PHILIP   HATHAWAY. 
Remodeled   by  Capt.  Washington  Read. 

199 


thirty-seven  years  of  age,  he  doubled  Cape  Horn  to  vSan 
Francisco;  thence  to  Singapore,  thence  to  Calcutta,  thence 
around  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  to  London,  and  from  there 
home  to  New  York.  The  trip  occupied  seventeen  months. 
When  he  arrived  off  San  Francisco  circumstances  com- 
pelled him  to  pass  through  the  Golden  Gate,  a  strait 
five  miles  long  and  one  mile  wide,  with  bold  and  rocky 
shores,  in  the  night  time,  against  a  strong  head  wind. 
While  on  the  quarter  deck,  directing  the  movements  of 
his  ship,  his  stout  heart  gave  way,  and  he  shed  tears. 
His  usual  good  fortune  did  not  forsake  him,  however, 
and  the  morning  found  him  safely  at  anchor  in  San  Fran- 
cisco bay.  Captain  Read  crossed  the  Atlantic  about 
seventy  times,  his  wife  accompanying  him  thirty-eight 
times.  He  never  grounded  or  lost  a  vessel.  He  rescued 
many  survivors  from  numerous  wrecks,  taking  fifty-two 
from  one  wreck  in  mid-ocean,  encountering  great  peril  in 
so  doing.  For  this  he  received  high  commendation  from 
the  Lord  Mayor  of  London,  the  rescued  being  British 
subjects. 

Captains  Edmund  Hathaway,  Job  Terry,  George  C. 
Briggs,  George  W.  Pickens,  George  W.  Hall,  Elnathan 
P.  Hathaway,  Allen  Read,  and  many  others  whose  names 
are  unknown  to  the  writer,  in  connection  with  this  partic- 
ular service,  sailed  to  foreign  ports,  the  four  last  named  in 
vessels  not  hailing  from  Freetown.  Captain  Elnathan  P. 
Hatheway  sailed  one  of  the  largest  ships  out  of  New  York, 
and  made  the  quickest  trip  to  Rio  Janeiro  on  record  at  the 
time.  Among  those  known  to  the  writer  who  were  mas- 
ters of  vessels,  engaged  in  the  Southern  carrying  trade, 
were  Franklin  Briggs,  Nathaniel  Briggs,  Tames  Burr, 
James  W.  Burr,  Luther  Cudworth,  George  Dean,  William 
Hall,  Welcome  Hathaway,  Adino  Paddock,  Benjamin  F. 
Pickens,  Samuel  Pridham,  Joseph  H.  Read  and  William 
Read.  During  the  War  of  LSI 2  Captain  Franklin  Briggs 
was  captured  by  the  British  and  confined  in  Dartmoor 
prison,  where  he  suffered  many  hardships. 

200 


In  the  following  list  of  masters  of  vessels  there  are 
many  who  are  well  deserving  of  especial  mention,  but 
unfortunately  there  is  no  record  of  their  sea  service  to 
refer  to  and  the  writer  knows  of  no  living  person  that  he 
can  appeal  to  for  information  concerning  them.  In  the 
list  of  vessels  hailing  from  the  town  the  names  of  many 
of  them  appear  as  masters  of  several  different  vessels  when 
their  final  papers  were  taken  out  at  the  Custom  House.     In 


CAPT     EDMUND    HATHAWAY    HOMESTEAD. 
Now  Owned   by  His  Grandson,   E,  G.   Lawton. 


many  instances  they  commanded  other  vessels  mentioned 
in  the  list,  but  before  the  issuing  of  their  last  papers,  and 
also,  in  some  cases,  they  commanded  vessels  hailing  from 
some  other  port.  It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  unless 
in  command  of  a  Freetown  vessel  when  her  final  papers 
were  issued,  a  master's  name  does  not  appear  in  this 
chapter,   unless  supplied  from  memory. 


201 


MASTERS    OF    VESSKLS. 

Augustus  C.  Barrows,  vStephen  B.  Barnaby,  Jonathan 
Barnaby,  Anson  Bliffins,  Valentine  Bletlien,  Aaron  Bor- 
den, Joseph  Brightman,  Josephus  Briggs,  Ephraim  Briggs, 
Edmund  Briggs,  John  Briggs,  John  Brown,  Jonathan 
Bowen,  Philip  Chace,  Augustus  Chace,  Allen  Chace,  Seth 
Chaee,  Henry  M.  Chace,  Joseph  Church,  John  Clark,  Ben- 
jamin Davis  Jr.,  Aaron  Dean,  Elisha  Gregory,  Edmund 
Harris,  Philip  Hathaway,  Jason  Hathaway,  Baylies  Hath- 
away, Abiel  Hathaway,  Edmund  D.  Hathaway,  Benjamin 
H.  Lawton,  Ebenezer  Payne,  Allen  Payne,  Sylvanus  S. 
Payne,  Thomas  Payne,  George  Pickens,  John  V.  Pratt, 
Elisha  L.  Pratt,  William  Pratt,  Benjamin  Porter  Jr.,  John 
Read,  Jonathan  Read  Jr., William  Read  Jr.,  John  Strange, 
Charles  Strange,  William  Sekell,  Philip  Tew,  Benjamin 
Tew,  Hathaway  Tew,  John  Terry,  Zephaniah  Terry,  Ed- 
mund Valentine,  James  L.  Valentine,  Nathan  Weaver  and 
Sheffel  Weaver. 

Captain  Albert  Briggs,  now  a  resident  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y. , 
became  interested  and  noted  in  lake  navigation,  and  for- 
merly commanded  the  large  iron  steamer  Merchant,  720 
tons,  on  the  Buffalo,  Milwaukee  and  Chicago  line. 

The  following  named  were  largely  interested  in  ship- 
ping as  owners  in  vessels,  but  did  not  themselves  follow 
the  sea:  Ambrose  Barnaby,  Isaac  Burbank,  Kempton  Bur- 
bank,  Thomas  Burbank,  Luther  Briggs,  Benjamin  W. 
Brown,  Darius  Chace,  Gilbert  Chace,  Isaiah  Chace,  Rich- 
ard Clark,  John  Cudworth,  Ebenezer  Crane  Jr.,  Thomas 
Davis,  Benjamin  Dean,  John  Dean,  Joseph  Durfee,  Joseph 
Durfee,  Jr.,  Alden  Hathaway,  Noah  Hathaway,  Guilford 
Hathaway,  Guilford  H.  Hathaway,  Ambrose  W.  Hathaway, 
James  W.  Hathaway,  Joseph  Hathaway,  Isaac  Merrick,  John 
Nichols,  Peter  Nichols,  Job  Peirce,  Elery  Peirce,  Job  Payne, 
Luther  Pickens,  Samuel  Pickens,Josiah  Paddock,  Earl  Samp- 
son,  George  Shove,   Asa  Shove,   Stephen    Shove,  Samuel 

202 


Shove,  Joseph  Shove,  Ephraim  Tisdale,  Silas  Terry,  Edson 
Valentine,  William  Valentine  and  John  D.  Wilson. 

Among  the  traders  that  went  to  Darien,  Ga.,  winters, 
as  referred  to  in  this  ehapter,  may  be  mentioned  Benjamin 
F.  Briggs,  Benjamin  Dean,  John  Dean,  Thomas  Leeburn, 
and  John  D.  Wilson. 

Erratum. — The  last  vessel  built  at  the  shipyard  on  Payne's  Cove  was 
the  vSloop  Alabama,  Thomas  Evans,  boss  carpenter,  not  the  Florida,  as 
stated  on  page  171. 


2(13 


KEY  TO  MAP  OF  ASSONET 
RIVER  AND  VICINITY. 


1.  Winslow's  Point. 

2.  Robinson's  Shore. 

3.  Bar  Rocks. 

4.  Winslow's  Rocks. 

5.  Silas  Hathaway's  Creek. 

6.  Gull  Rock. 

7.  Merrick's  Shore. 

8.  The  Conspiracy. 

9.  Darius  Phillips'. 

10.  The  Narrows. 

11.  Simon's  Rock. 

12.  Babbitt's. 

V4.  Hathaway's  Wharf. 

14.  Davis'  Landing. 

15.  Tew's  Landing. 

16.  Perch  Rocks. 

17.  Shepard's  Cove. 

18.  Pine  Island. 

19.  Westcott's  Island  (South) 

20.  Cedar  Tree. 

21.  The  Turn. 

22.  The  Cleft. 

23.  Fowle's  Meadow. 

24.  Fowle's  Meadow  Point. 

25.  Boyce's  Creek. 
20.  Stacy's  Creek. 

27.  Tripp's  Creek. 

28.  Clam  Point. 

29.  Nab's  Creek. 

30.  Town  Farm  Brook. 

31.  Porter's  Shore. 

32.  Smith's  Point. 

33.  John  Terry's  Landing. 

34.  Oyster  Point. 


Drawn  by  Gilbkkt  -M.  Nichols. 


204 


'So.  Evans'  AVharf. 

86.  Ship  Yard  Site. 

37.  Bleachery  Pond. 

88.  Hopping  Paul  Brook. 

89.  Amos'  Pond. 

40.  Terry's  Brook. 

41.  Bleachery  Reservoir. 

42.  Spur  Track  to  Davis  Place 

Ledge. 

48.  King's  Point. 

44.  Smooth  Shore. 

45.  Bass  Rock. 

46.  Bass  Rock  Point. 

47.  Cudworth's  Wharf. 

48.  The  Lower  Wharves. 

49.  Welcome's  Rock. 

50.  Welcome's  Point. 

51.  The  Gulleys. 
.53.  Channel  Rock. 
58.  Pierce's  Point. 

54.  Welcome's  Wharf  and 

Shore. 

55.  Rodman's  Wharf. 

56.  The  Ship  Yard,  or  Build- 

ing Lot. 

57.  Lawton's  Wharf. 

58.  South  Water  Street. 
.59  Billy's  Marsh. 

60.  Winslow's  Wharf. 

61.  Assonet  Four  Corners. 

62.  Old  Tide  Mill  Site. 
68.  Old  Tan  Yard  Site. 

64  Tisdale's  Dam  and  Pond. 

05.  Porter's  Dam  and  Pond. 

66.  Winslow's  Dam  and  Pond. 

67.  Forge  Dam  and  Pond. 

68.  Forge  Road. 

69.  Joshua's  Mountain. 


205 


The  Assonet  River. 


BY   JOHN    M.    DEANE. 


THE  Assonet  River  is  about  twelve  miles  long.  It  has 
its  source  in  Cranberry  Swamp,  a  large  swamp  lying 
south  east  of  Assonet  Village,  on  the  farther  side  of  the 
high  ridge  that  skirts  the  village  on  the  east  known  as 
Break  Neck  Hill ;  and  between  the  two  roads  leading  from 
Assonet  to  New  Bedford.  From  the  swamp  the  stream 
takes  a  northerly  course,  crossing  the  northerly  New  Bed- 
ford road  at  vSlab  Bridge ;  so  named  because  the  bridge 
that  crosses  the  stream  at  this  point  was  once  made  of 
slabs.  Here  are  the  ruins  of  an  old  dam,  and  a  mill  of 
some  kind  was  undoubtedly  once  located  at  this  point. 
It  next  crosses  the  Howland  road,  and  here  we  find  the 
ruins  of  the  Howland  saw  mill.  At  the  Water  Rock  road 
we  find  the  Dunham  saw  mill,  the  roadway  itself  being 
the  dam. 

At  its  crossing  of  the  new  County  road  is  located  the 
Charles  Davis  Saw  mill.  About  half  a  mile  beyond  this 
mill  the  stream,  having  reached  the  level  lands  of  Alyricks, 
turns  to  the  west,  crosses  the  Beech-woods  road,  and  also 
the  Fall  River  rail  road,  at  a  point  about  one  mile  south 
of  the  ]My ricks  station.  After  passing  the  railroad  it  turns 
.south,  and  at  Maple  Tree  bridge  on  the  Myricks  road  is 
located  the  Haskins  saw  mill.  On  the  edge  of  the  stream 
south  of  the  railroad  bridge,  and  near  the  Myricks  road 
there  once  stood  a  maple  tree  that  was  the  corner  bounds 
of  Bristol  and  Plymouth  counties,  and  the  towns  of  Middle- 
borough,  Freetown,  Dighton  and  Taunton.      In  17:^)5  Berk- 

20(i 


ley  was  incorporated  and  took  the  place  of  Digliton  at  the 
maple  tree.  Later  a  stone  monument  was  erected,  and  in 
1S53  Lakeville  was  incorporated  and  took  the  place  of 
Middleborough  at  the  stone  monument.  Often  have  we 
lain  across  the  top  of  this  monument  and  informed  our 
schoolmates  of  the  ^Slyricksville  Academy  that  we  were 
living  in  one  state,  two  counties,  and  four  towns,  all  at 
the  same  time.  This  is  no  longer  possible.  The  state 
and  two  counties  are  still  there,  but  that  part  of  Taunton 
was  annexed  to  Berkley  in  1S7H.  Just  below  the  Maple 
Tree  bridge  the  stream  enters  the  Forge  pond.  Its  course 
after  leaving  the  pond  at  the  Forge  dam  is  shown  on  the 
map.  At  high  tide  salt  water  flows  up  to  Tisdale's  dam. 
At  full  tides  the  rise  and  fall  is  about  seven  feet.  The 
source  of  the  river  is  nearly  in  a  direct  line  east  of  its 
mouth,  and  but  two  or  three  miles  from  it.  The  junction 
of  its  main  channel  with  that  of  Taunton  river  is  opposite 
storehouse  point,  Somerset,  a  short  distance  above  the  rail 
road  bridge.  Island  Bed,  just  below  the  junction  of  the 
channels,  and  across  which  the  rail  road  is  built,  is  partly 
in  Freetown  and  partly  in  Fall  River. 

The  favorite  fishing  grounds  of  our  old  time  residents 
were  at  the  mouth  of  Payne's  Cove,  up  Joshua's  and 
Shove's  Channels,  off  Cedar  Tree,  at  the  Perch  Rocks, 
in  The  Narrows,  and  off  AVinslow's  Rocks ;  while  they 
found  good  clamming  at  John  Terry's  Landing,  at  The 
Cleft,  in  The  Narrows,  at  ^Merrick's  and  Robinson's  shores, 
and  at  The  Conspiracy.  They  could  rake  oysters  all  along 
the  Main  Channel  below  Payne's  Cove,  or  pick  them  up 
on  the  mud  flats  at  low  water.  Large  quantities  of  striped 
bass  used  to  be  taken  from  the  channel  in  the  bay,  in  the 
winter  time,  by  inserting  a  large  round  net,  attached  to  a 
long  pole,  through  a  hole  cut  in  the  ice,  and  sweeping  it 
round  and  round.  The  fish,  somewhat  chilled  by  the  cold 
water  and  drifting  with  the  current,  became  an  easy  prey. 
Up  Joshua's  or  vShove's  Channels,  at  certain  stages  of  the 
tide,  with  a  pole  and  double    hooked   line  it  was   not  an 

2UT 


unusual  thing  for  one  to  catch  white  perch  two  at  a  time, 
getting  from  one  to  two  hundred  on  board  before  the  fish 
struck  out  into  the  main  channel.  This  was  before  the 
waters  of  our  beautiful  riv^er  were  contaminated  by  the 
refuse  of  the  Copper  Works  on  Taunton  river,  and  the 
Bleacheries  and  saw  mills  on  its  own  banks.  This  refuse 
not  only  keeps  most  of  the  fish  out  of  the  river,  but  has 
materially  injured  the  oyster  beds,  killed  off  the  tall  sea- 
weed that  formerly  grew  on  the  mud  flats,  and  destroyed 
all  the  thatch  that  formerly  grew  above  Bass  Rock  Point. 
Thatch  was  provided  by  nature  to  protect  the  soft  muddy 
sod  of  the  marshes  from  the  action  of  the  waves.  The 
three  marshes  above  Bass  Rock  Point  having  been  deprived 
of  this  protection  are  being  slowly  but  surely  cut  into  and 
washed  away.  Great  windrows  of  seaweed  used  to  be 
thrown  up  on  the  shores  of  the  bay  in  the  fall  of  the 
year,  by  the  action  of  the  wind  and  tide,  a  large  portion 
of  it  coming  from  the  High  Flat  bounded  by  Joshua's, 
Shove's  and  the  main  channel.  This  was  carted  off  and 
used  as  a  fertilizer.  vSome  of  our  citizens  made  a  business 
of  gathering  seaweed  from  the  mud  flats  in  boats,  first 
twisting  it  around  a  long  pole,  then  taking  it  on  board 
and  cutting  it  oft"  the  pole.  From  a  deep  hole  below  the 
mouth  of  the  river  boatloads  of  decayed  seaweed  constantly 
being  swept  into  it  by  the  current,  were  taken  out  with 
oyster  rakes  and  sold  for  fertilizing  purposes.  An  ordinary 
boatload  of  seaweed  sold  for  one  dollar  and  twenty -five 
cents. 

The  favorite  bathing  places  on  the  river  are  Lawton's 
wharf.  Welcome's  shore,  Cudworth's  wharf,  the  Gulleys, 
Smooth  shore.  Porter's  shore,  the  Cleft,  in  the  Narrows, 
and  at  Merrick's  shore. 

At  The  Narrows,  Babbitt's  was  formerly  a  popular 
summer  resort,  being  largely  patronized  by  people  from 
Taunton  and  vicinity.  Clambakes,  a  dance  pavilion,  a 
bowling  alley,  and  sail  and  row  boats  were  provided  for 
visitors.       Clambakes    were   also  provided    for    parties    at 

208 


Darius  Phillips'  and  at  Thomas  Jefferson  Tew's.      There 
was  good  fishing  and  bathing  at  either  place. 

In  the  great  gale  of  vSeptember  23,  1815,  the  large 
rock  on  the  east  shore  at  the  Narrows,  known  as  Simon's 
Rock,  is  said  to  have  turned  over.  At  high  tide  that  day 
the  water  was  seven  feet  deep  in  Water  street  at  the  ship 
yard.  In  the  gale  of  September  8,  1869,  the  water  was 
three  feet  deep  at  the  same  place.  It  was  in  this  latter 
gale  that  the  steeple  of  the  South  Church  was  blown  off. 

Any  vessel  that  can  pass  through  Mount  Hope  Bay 
can  without  difficulty  reach  the  mouth  of  Joshua's  Channel. 
Vessels  drawing-  eight  feet  of  water  can  reach  the  lower 
wharves  at  full  tide,  and  those  drawing  seven  feet  the 
upper  wharves.  Captain  Washington  Read  once  sailed 
his  full  rigged  ship  up  to  the  lower  wharves,  where  he 
turned  around,  and  sailed  out  again. 

Amos'  Pond  is  said  to  have  taken  its  name  from  a 
man  named  Amos,  who  rode  into  it  to  water  his  horse, 
and  disappeared,  horse  and  all,  in  a  quagmire. 

At  John  Terry's  Landing  the  main  channel  runs  close 
to  the  shore,  which  at  that  point  is  so  bold  that  vessels  are 
easily  laid  alongside  the  bank  and  loaded  with  wood. 
John  Terry,  for  whom  the  landing  was  named,  lived  alone 
on  Bryant's  Neck,  which  at  every  high  tide  becomes  an 
island.  He  lived  in  a  log  hut  having  neither  windows  or 
door,  but  loopholes  through  which  he  could  shoot  if 
attacked  by  Indians.  Entrance  or  exit  could  be  had  only 
through  its  large  stone  chimney.  He  was  buried  on  Bry- 
ant's Neck,  but  the  location  of  his  grave  is  not  known. 
His  cabin  was  located  at  the  Junction  of  the  two  cart- 
paths,  just  across  the  low  marsh  that  separates  the  neck 
from  the  main  land ;   and  near  the  head  of  vShepard's  Cove. 

Channel  Rock  was  lifted  from  the  channel  near  The 
Gulleys  in  1844  by  the  incoming  tide;  it  had  been 
chained  at  low  water  to  a  strong  stick  of  timber  laid  across 
the  two  large   derrick  scows   that   had   been   used  in    the 

309 


rebuilding   of    Rodman's    Wharf,   and  was    floated   to  its 
present  location  on  the  shore. 

Welcome's  Shore  was  used  as  a  "  dry  dock"  by  vessel 
owners.  A  vessel  having  been  put  on  at  high  tide  would 
be  heeled  off  shore.  As  soon  as  the  tide  receded  work 
would  commence  on  the  upper  side  of  the  vessel's  bottom. 
When  finished  the  vessel  would  be  turned  around  at  high 
water  and  the  other  side  of  the  bottom  exposed  and  re- 
paired in  like  manner.  To  hurry  the  drying  of  paint, 
and  prevent  its  being  washed  off  by  the  incoming  tide, 
straw  was  burned  under  the  vessels  bottom.  The  writer 
well  remembers  how  the  music  of  the  caulking  hammers 
of  John  and  Hampton  Pierce  rang  through  the  village  as 
they  drove  home  the  oakum  on  vessels  undergoing  repairs. 

Rodman's  Wharf  was  formerly  known  as  Chase's  Land- 
ing. Water  street  was  then  a  driftway,  and  a  gate  or  bars 
was  maintained  at  the  four  corners.  Here  the  river  used 
to  be  forded,  and  stepping  stones  to  Pierce's  Point  were 
used  at  low  water.  John  Deane  was  the  last  man  to  ford 
the  river  at  this  point  with  a  team.  His  horse  got  stuck 
in  the  mud,  and  this  deterred  others  from  making  further 
attempts  to  ford  the  river  at  this  place. 

It  is  an  old  saying  that  "it  always  rains  when  Billy's 
Marsh  is  mowed."  It  is  a  fact  that  the  hay  does  almost 
always  get  wet  before  it  is  made  and  housed. 

The  heavy  stone  wall  along  the  south  bank  of  the 
river,  east  of  Lawton's  Wharf,  was  built  by  Joseph  D. 
Hathaway  and  Leander  Andros  of  Berkley,  in  iS-iT,  for 
Captain  Job  G.  Lawton.  A  part  of  the  filling  was  taken 
from  the  sand  bank  near  what  is  now  the  town  cemetery, 
and  a  part  from  the  sand  bank  on  South  Water  street. 

The  two-arched  stone  bridge  that  spanned  the  river 
on  the  Fall  River  road  was  carried  away  by  the  freshet  of 
February  13,  1886,  the  immediate  cause  being  a  large  log 
that  came  down  over  Tisdale's  dam.  This  struck  the 
south  abutment   with    great    force,   and   remaining  in  an 

210 


eddy,  continued  to  pound  the  abutment,  at  last  loosening 
the  stones,  and  allowing  the  swift  current  to  reach  the 
gravel  behind  them.  The  bridge  was  rebuilt  with  a  single 
arch  the  following  summer.  In  the  meantime  a  roadway 
through  the  Allen  Chace  land  to  Elm  street  was  utilized. 
The  railroad  bridge  and  embankment  at  Hopping  Paiil 
Brook  was  carried  away  at  the  same  tiine.  A  train  of 
empty  coal  cars  soon  came  along  and  plunged  into  the 
brook,  killing  the  fireman,  Edgar  Francis  Russell,  of  Som- 
erset, Mass. 

A  tide  mill  was  once  maintained  just  east  of  the  Fall 
River  road  bridge.  The  ruins  of  the  dam  are  still  visible. 
The  grist  mill  that  was  built  here  by  Joseph  Winslow  was 
raised  June  25,  1784.  When  the  mill  was  taken  down 
much  of  the  heavy  timber  of  its  frame  was  used  in  build- 
ing the  stable  that  now  stands  near  the  bridge. 

The  old  shoe  makers'  shop,  bark  mill,  curry  shop  and 
tan-vats  that  were  located  on  the  river  bank  near  the  Elm 
street  bridge,  and  known  as  the  tan  yard,  have  given  way 
to  a  inodern  dwelling  and  grass  plot. 

The  winter  of  17T9-'.S0  was  the  coldest  of  the  eigh- 
teenth century.  The  ice  on  the  rivers  and  bays  was  so 
thick  that  loaded  teams  passed  over  it  froin  Assonet  to 
Newport. 


211 


Record  and  Tradition. 


BY  JOHN    M.    DEANE. 


DEED  OF  THE  FREEMEN  S  PURCHASE. 

ON  THE  third  day  of  July  165t;,  the  General  Court  of 
Plymouth,  granted  unto  sundry  of  the  ancient  freemen 
of  that  jurisdiction,  viz  :  Capt.  James  Cudworth  and  others, 
the  lands  conveyed  by  the  following  deed  dated  April  2, 
1059: 

Know  all  men  by  these  presents,  that  we,  Ossamequin, 
Wamsitta,  Tattapanum,  Natives,  inhabiting  and  living  within  the 
government  of  New  Plymouth,  in  New  England  in  America, 
have  bargained,  sold,  enfeoffed  and  confirmed  unto  Captain 
James  Cudworth,  Josiah  Winslow  Sr.,  Constant  South  worth, 
John  Barns,  John  Tesdale,  Humphrey  Turner,  Walter  Hatch, 
Samuel  House,  Samuel  Jackson,  John  Daman,  Mr.  Timothy 
Hatherly,  Timothy  Foster,  Thomas  South  worth,  George  Wat- 
son, Nathaniel  Morton,  Richard  Moore,  Edmund  Chandler, 
Samuel  Nash,  Henry  Howland,  Mr.  Ralph  Partridge,  Love 
Brewster,  William  Paybody,  Christopher  Wadsworth,  Kenelme 
Winslow,  Thomas  Bourne  and  John  Waterman,  the  son  of  Robert 
Waterman  and  do  by  these  presents  bargain,  sell,  enfeoff  and 
confirm  from  us  our  heirs,  unto  James  Cudworth,  Josiah  Winslow 
Senior,  Constant  Southworth,  John  Tesdale  &c.,  and  they  and 
their  heirs,  all  the  tract  of  upland  and  meadow  lying  on  the  east- 
erly side  of  Taunton  river,  beginning  or  bounded  toward  the 
south  with  the  river  called  the   Falls  or  Quequechand,    and   so 

212 


extending  itself  northerly  until  it  comes  to  a  little  brook,  called 
by  the  English  by  the  name  of  Stacey's  Creek;  which  brook 
issues  out  of  the  woods,  into  the  marsh  or  bay  of  Assonate  close 
by  the  narrowing  of  Assonate  Neck,  and  from  a  marked  tree, 
near  the  said  brook  at  the  head  of  the  marsh,  to  extend  itself  into 
the  woods  on  a  north  easterly  point  four  miles,  and  from  the 
head  of  said  four  miles  on  a  straight  line  southerly  until  it  meet 
with  the  head  of  the  four  mile  line  at  Ouequechand,  or  the  Falls 
aforesaid,  including  all  meadow,  necks  or  islands  lying  and  being 
between  Assonate  Neck  and  the  Falls  aforesaid,  (except  the  land 
that  Tabatacason  hath  in  present  use)  and  the  meadow  upon 
Assonate  Neck,  on  the  south  side  of  the  said  neck,  and  all  the 
meadow  on  the  westerly  side  of  Taunton  River  from  Taunton 
bounds  round  until  it  come  to  the  head  of  Weypoyset  river,  in 
all  creeks,  coves,  rivers,  and  inland  meadow  not  lymg  above  four 
miles  from  the  flowing  of  the  tide  in,  and  for  the  consideration 
of  twenty  coats,  two  rugs,  two  iron  pots,  two  kettles  and  one 
little  kettle,  eight  pair  of  shoes,  six  pair  of  stockings,  one  dozen 
hoes,  one  dozen  of  hatchets,  two  yards  of  broadcloth  and  a  debt 
satisfied  to  John  Barnes  which  was  due  from  Wamsitta,  unto 
John  Barnes  before  the  "2 4th  of  December  1G57,  all  being  unto 
us  in  hand  paid,  wherewith  we,  the  said  Ossamequin,  Wamsitta 
Tattapanum,  are  fully  satisfied,  contented  and  paid,  and  do  by 
these  presents  exonerate,  acquit,  and  discharge,  (  Here  all  the 
grantees  are  again  named)  they  and  either  of  them  and  each  of 
the  heirs  and  executors  of  them  forever.  Warranting  the  here- 
of from  all  persons  from,  by  or  under  us,  as  laying  any  claim 
unto  the  premises  from,  by  or  under  us,  claiming  any  right  or 
title  thereunto,  or  unto  any  part  or  parcel  thereof,  the  said 
(  grantees)  to  have  and  to  hold  to  them  and  their  heirs  forever, 
all  the  above  upland  and  meadow  as  is  before  expressed,  with 
all  the  appurtenances  thereunto  belonging  from  us,  Ossamequin, 
Wamsitta  and  Tattapanum,  and  every  of  us,  our  heirs,  and  every 
of  them  forever,  unto  them,  they,  their  heirs,  executors,  ad- 
ministrators and  assigns  forever,  according  to  the  tenure  of  East 
Greenwich,  in  free  soccage  and  not  i)i  Capite  nor  by  knights' 
service.  Also  the  said  Ossamequin,  Wamsitta  and  Tattapanum 
do  covenant  and  grant  that  it  may  be  lawful  for  the  said 
(grantees)  to  enter  the  said  deed  in  the  court  of  Plymouth,  or 
in  any  other  court  of  record  provided  for  in  such  case,  in  and  for 

21:^ 


the  true  performance  whereof  Ossamequin,  Wamsitta  and  Tatta- 
panum  have  hereunto  set  our  hands  and  seals  this  "-ind  day  of 
April  1(;59. 

J  SEAL  |- 

Wamsitta         his  x  mark.     -  seal  - 


Tattapanum  her  x  mark.      -  seal  - 

Signed  sealed  and  delivered  in  presence  of 

Thomas  Cooke. 
Jonathan  Brigd. 
John  Sassamon. 

Ossamequin  ( Massasoit  )  never  signed  the  deed.  He  died  about 
1662. 

It  was  acknowledged  June  9,  1659,  by  Wamsitta  (Wamsutta  or  Alexan- 
der) and  the  squaw  Tattapanum  (Nanumpum  or  Weetamoe)  before  Josiah 
Winslow  and  William  Bradford,  assistants. 

Wamsutta  died  in  1662,  and  Weetamoe  his  wife  was  drowned  in 
Taunton  river  in  August,  1676. 

Captain  James  Cudworth,  Constant  Southworth  Josiah  Winslow  Sr. 
and  John  Tesdall  were  chosen  a  committee  to  view  and  divide  the  land  mto 
twenty-six  parts,  according  to  their  judgement  of  quantity  and  quality,  and 
to  dispose  of  the  same  by  lot,  each  owner  binding  himself  to  rest  contented 
with  the  portion  falling  to  him.  It  was  also  agreed  that  the  owner  of  the 
lot  in  which  should  fall  the  land  Tabadascon  has  in  present  use  for  the 
Indians  that  keep  the  Ferry,  and  which  has  been  reserved  by  the  grantors, 
should  allow  it  until  further  agreement  was  made  with  the  Indians ;  and  as 
an  Indian  called  Pianto  had  asked  to  have  three  or  four  acres  on  some  plain 
to  plant  during  his  lifetime,  the  owner  .shall  agree  and  the  land  shall  return 
to  him  after  Piantos  decease.  Each  lot  was  to  run  from  the  river  to  the  ex- 
treme eastern  bounds,  and  any  one  cut  off  from  any  portion  of  his  lot  by 
neck  water  or  marsh  was  to  be  allowed  free  passage  over  the  land  of 
another. 

In  July  16N2  the  Court  ordered  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  Freeman's 
land  at  the  Fall  River  shall  be  a  township  having  a  constable  and  (xrand 
Jury  Man  and  henceforth  be  called  Freetown. 

A  part  of  Tiverton,  East  Freetown,  was  annexed  in  1747. 

Fall  River  was  set  off  February  26,  1808. 

A  part  was  annexed  to  Fairhaven  June  15,  1815. 

214 


COLONEL  THO^L\S    GILBERT  S  LETTER  TO  GENERAL  RUGGLES. 

Freetown,  April  ye  o,  1775, 
Honorable  Sir : 

I  received  your  favor  of  the  31st  of  March. 
Nothing  could  animate  the  spirits  of  the  friends  to  government 
to  a  greater  height,  than  to  have  the  approbation  of  the  General. 
My  son  took  a  long  boat  and  went  to  the  man  of  war,  and 
brought  back  a  letter  from  Captain  Wallis  to  the  Admiral,  which 
I  send  to  your  care  by  a  poor  man,  which  is  the  safest  way  that 
can  be  thought  on  at  this  critical  time.  I  hear  from  Captain 
Wallis  that  he  fears  to  venture  up  the  river  with  his  ship  fearing 
there  is  not  sufficient  depth  of  water.  A  vessel  of  less  force 
might  answer  the  purpose.  Except  there  be  support  by  land  or 
water  there  is  reason  to  fear  the  friends  of  government  will  give 
out,  for  they  are  daily  threatened  with  all  kinds  of  punishments 
even  with  death  itself.  Last  Monday  the  rebels  mustered  from 
Middleborough  and  Berkley  and  Swansea  and  Dighton  and 
made  up  a  hundred  and  forty  in  arms;  marched  by  my  house 
where  was  twenty  five  with  the  Kings'  arms  well  loaded.  I  went 
out  before  my  door  told  them  they  were  a  poor  set  of  deluded 
rebels  so  they  marched  off  without  tearing  down  my  house  or 
killing  me  as  the  day  before  they  swore  they  would  do.  I  had 
the  pleasure  to  see  the  Generals'  letter  to  the  Justices.  I  expect 
but  little  assistance  from  those  out  of  town  but  if  the  General 
sends  troops  here  they  shall  have  houses  of  my  own  sufficient  for 
them.  We  are  in  high  expectation  of  seeing  the  day  of  their 
arrival,  when  we  may  hope  to  sleep  without  fear.  There  has 
been  no  act  of  violence  since  my  last,  except  the  three  men  were 
at  Boston  last  week  on  their  return  were  pursued  at  or  near 
Raynham  bridge,  by  a  number  of  men,  some  on  horseback  but 
they  took  the  bush  and  made  their  escape.  My  son  and  others 
say  I  have  a  thousand  curses  every  day,  but  don't  say  the  Lord 
hath  part,  but  thank  God  I  neither  love  nor  fear  them.  Pray 
give  my  compliments  to  all  true  friends.  I  am  your  obliged 
obedient  and  humble  servant. 

Thomas  Gilbert. 

THE    FIRST    ACTUAL    WAR    MOVEMENT    OF    THE    REVOLUTION. 

On  the  !»th  of  April,  1775,  ten  day.s  before  the  battle 
of    Lexington,    an   expedition   of    minute   men    from   the 

215 


other  towns  in  the  county,  principally  from  Attleboro, 
was  formed  to  march  to  Assonet  Village,  to  seize  arms 
and  munitions  collected  there  by  Col.  Thomas  Gilbert, 
and  capture  him  and  three  hundred  other  Royalists  said 
to  be  harboring  there.  Col.  John  Daggett  of  Attleboro 
coinmanded  the  expedition,  which  numbered  upwards  of 
two  thousand  men.  Capt.  Charles  vStrange,  who  then 
lived  on  the  present  town  farm,  saw  the  troops  as  they 
passed  his  house  in  the  night.  Col.  Gilbert  on  learn- 
ing of  the  approach  of  the  expedition  took  what  he  could 
of  the  munitions  and  with  some  of  his  followers  went  on 
board  one  of  the  English  men-of-war  at  Newport. 

Col.  Daggett,  after  seizing  the  arms  and  ammunition 
left  behind  by  the  fleeing  Tories,  sent  out  scouting  parties 
and  without  bloodshed,  twenty-nine  men  who  had  signed 
enlistments  in  the  colonel's  company  to  join  the  King's 
troops  were  taken  prisoners.  "At  Taunton  in  the  after- 
noon the  prisoners  were  separately  examined,  eighteen  of 
whom  made  such  humble  acknowledgements  of  their  past 
bad  conduct,  and  solemn  promises  to  behave  better  for  the 
future,  they  were  dism-issed ;  but  the  other  eleven,  being 
obstinate  and  insulting,  a  party  were  ordered  to  carry 
them  to  Simsbury  Mines,  but  they  were  sufficiently  hum- 
bled before  they  had  got  fourteen  miles  on  their  way 
thither,  upon  which  they  were  brought  back  the  next  day, 
and  after  signing  proper  articles  to  behave  better  for  the 
future,  were  escorted  to  Freetown." 

The  foregoing  quotation  is  from  a  Boston  letter  that  was  published  in 
the  Essex  Gazette  of  Salem,  April  18,  1775. 

TIIK    BATTLE    OF    FREETOWN. 

The  Battle  of  Freetown  was  fought  near  the  southern 
boundry  of  the  town  on  Sunday,  May  25,  ITTS.  About 
one  hundred  and  fifty  English  soldiers,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Maj.  Ayers,  came  up  Mount  Hope  Bay  in  boats 
in  the  night  and  landed  near  where  the  Quequechan  river 
empties  into  it.      The  English  soldiers  occupying  the  south 

21(i 


part  of  Rhode  Island,  and  the  English  sailors  from  the 
ships  hovering  off  our  coast  were  constantly  committing 
depredations  and  harassing  the  people  living  on  the  main 
land,  destroying  their  property  and  often  making  prisoners 
of  them.  Col.  Joseph  Diirfee,  a  brave  and  patriot  citizen, 
who  had  already  served  as  an  officer  in  the  American  Army, 
and  who  had  taken  an  active  part  in  the  battle  of  White 
Plains,  had  returned  home.  Finding  his  fellow  citizens  in 
dire  distress  and  exposed  to  the  depredations  of  the  enemy, 
he  obtained  from  Gen.  vSullivan  at  Providence  permission 
to  raise  a  guard  for  their  protection.  He  established  a 
iTuard  house  on  the  shore   near   what   is   now   the   foot   of 

o 

Central  St.,  Fall  River.  Before  daylight  on  the  date  above 
mentioned,  Samuel  Reed,  the  sentinel,  discovered  a  boat 
stealthily  approaching  the  shore.  His  challenge  not  being 
answered,  he  fired  his  musket.  The  guard  thus  alarmed 
formed  behind  a  stone  wall  and  gave  battle.  The  enem\% 
having  a  cannon  opened  with  grape  shot.  Col.  Durfee 
with  his  men  retired  slowly  up  the  hill  until  they  reached 
a  bridge  that  crossed  the  stream  near  where  the  city  hall 
of  Fall  River  now  stands.  Here  he  made  a  determined 
stand,  and  so  valiantly  was  he  supported  by  the  loyal 
volunteers  of  old  Freetown  and  Tiverton,  who  had  rallied 
around  him,  that  the  enemy  soon  sounded  the  retreat. 
They  took  away  their  wounded  but  left  one  dead  and  one 
dying  soldier  on  the  field.  When  the  enemy  landed  they 
burned  a  new  house,  a  saw-mill  and  a  grist-mill  that  be- 
longed to  Thomas  Borden.  On  their  retreat  they  set  fire 
to  the  house  and  other  buildings  of  Richard  Borden,  an 
aged  man,  and  took  him  away  prisoner.  Col.  Durfee  fol- 
lowed closely  with  his  men,  who  kept  up  an  annoying 
musketry  fire  upon  the  retreating  troops.  He  also  saved 
the  latter  burning  buildings  from  destruction.  One  Eng- 
lish soldier  was  killed  after  they  had  taken  to  their  boats. 
Hoping  to  stop  the  firing  by  our  men  they  ordered  Mr. 
Borden  to  stand  up  in  the  boat,  where  he  could  be  recog- 
nized.     This  he  refused  to  do,  and  threw  himself  flat  on 

217 


the  bottom  of  the  boat.  When  questioned  he  positively 
refused  to  give  any  information  to  the  enemy.  After  a 
few  days  they  released  him  on  parole.  The  two  English 
soldiers  that  were  killed  were  buried  at  mid-day  near 
where  they  fell.  Our  brave  band  of  patriots  suffered  no 
loss.  Twenty-five  years  later  that  part  of  Freetown  where 
the  battle  was  fought  was  incorporated  as  the  town  of  Fall 
River.  Col.  Joseph  Durfee  at  one  time  owmed  and  lived 
in  the  house  on  Water  street,  Assonet  Village,  now  occu- 
pied by  Mrs.  Daniel  Johnson.  He  was  the  grandfather 
of  our  late  honored  fellow  citizen,  John  Durfee  Wilson. 

BRISTOL    COUNTY. 

Bristol  County,  established  in  1()S.5  when  Plymouth 
Colonv  was  divided  into  three  counties,  now  contains  about 
six  hundred  square  miles  of  territory.  Originally  it  also 
embraced  the  towns  of  Tiverton,  Little  Compton,  Bristol, 
Warren,  Barrington  and  Cumberland,  R.  I.  Bristol  was 
made  the  county  town  much  to  the  displeasure  of  Taunton. 
It  was  in  174()  that  the  above  mentioned  towns  were  made 
a  part  of  the  state  of  Rhode  Island.  The  county  kept  its 
original  name  and  Taunton  was  made  the  county  or  shire 
town.  In  1S28,  after  much  controversy  over  the  matter. 
New  Bedford  was  made  a  half-shire  towm.  At  one  stage 
of  this  controversy  there  was  a  fair  prospect  that  Freetown 
might  be  made  the  shire  town  as  a  compromise.  In  1>ST7 
the  justices  of  the  superior  court  were  authorized  by  statute 
to  adjourn  any  of  the  terms  of  that  court  to  Fall  River, 
where  a  court  house  and  jail  have  since  been  built,  and  a 
Registry  of  Deeds  established.  There  are  now  three  cities 
and  seventeen  towns  in  the  county,  only  five  of  which. 
Taunton,  Rehoboth,  Dartmouth,  Swansea  and  Freetown 
were  in  existence  when  the  county  was  formed.  Norton, 
Mansfield,  Dighton,  Berkley,  Raynham  and  Easton  were 
formerly  a  part  of  Taunton ;  Attleboro,  North  Attleboro 
and  Seekonk  a  part  of  Rehoboth  ;  New  Bedford,  Acushnet, 
Fairhaven  and  Westport  a  part  of  Dartmouth.      Somerset 

218 


was  set  off  from  Swansea,  and  Fall  River  from  Freetown. 
The  population  of  the  county  by  the  census  of  1!M»()  was 
252,(>2l>,  a  gain  of  33,000  since  the  census  of  1895. 

The  first  settlement  in  the  county  was  within  the  limits 
of  Taunton.  Bog  iron  ore  is  found  in  several  localities 
notably  in  Freetown,  where  it  was  once  extensively  dug 
and  worked. 

The  territory  embraced  in  the  county  was  formerly 
largely  occupied  by  the  Wampanoag,  Pocasset  and  Nemas- 
ket  Indians,  who  were  ruled  over  by  Massasoit  who  died  in 
lt)(il,  leaving  two  sons,  Alexander  or  Wamsutta  who  died 
in  1062,  and  Philip  or  Metacomet  who  died  in  lOTt). 

POPULATION    OF    FREETOWN. 

The  population  of  Freetown  in  the  year  17H5  was 
1492;  in  ITTC,  19ol;  in  lT9o,  22<»2;  in  isoO, -2535 ;  in  1810, 
1878; — Fall  River  was  set  off  from  Freetown  in  1803 — in 
1820,  1863  ; — A  part  of  Freetown  was  annexed  to  Fairhaven 
in  1815 — in  Fs3o.  llMit>;  in  ls4(i,  1772;  in  1850,  1615;  in 
1860,  1521;  in  1870,  1372;  in  1880,  1329;  in  1890,  1417; 
and  in  19oo,  1394. 

It  will  be  noted  that  there  was  a  steady  increase  in 
population  in  the  territory  now  called  Freetown  up  to  and 
including  the  census  of  1830.  Undoubtedly  the  decline  in 
population  in  the  town  commenced  with  the  advent  of 
railroads  in  the  county,  or  about  the  year  1835,  as  they  at 
once  diverted  the  freight  traffic  from  the  smaller  rivers, 
and  the  towns  located  on  them,  to  such  places  as  had  con- 
veniences for  reshipping  by  rail. 

VALUATION    OF    FREETOWN,    1831. 

Polls  363,  dwellings  22(>,  barns  158,  shops  3o.  tan 
houses  4,  warehouses  2,  saw  mills  9,  gristmills  8,  carding 
mills  1,  fulling  mills  1,  other  mills  1,  iron  works  and  fur- 
naces 5,  other  buildings  19,  tonnage  854,  superficial  feet 
of  wharf  land  26,720,  acres  of  tillage  land  604,  mowing 
land  971,  fresh  meadow  2(»7,  salt  marsh  90,  pasturage  2303, 

219 


woodland  unenclosed  ITOT),  unimproved  land  8.')43,  unim- 
provable land  752,  land  in  roads  270,  land  under  water  81 
acres. 

Horses  91,  mules  5,  oxen  214,  cows  315,  steers  and 
heifers  333,  sheep  985,  swine  242. 

Bushels  of  corn  raised  5547,  rye  885,  oats  218,  barley  50, 
tons  English  hay  cut  589,  fresh  hay  135,  salt  hay  87^. 

Stock  in  trade  Sl4,705.  Money  at  interest  $20,199. 
Money  on  hand  and  on  draft  $2842. 

Bank  stock  $21,300.      Total  valuation  $302,075. 

VALUATION    OF    FREETOWN,    1801. 

Polls  372,  dwellings  287,  barns  213,  shops  9,  tan 
houses  1,  warehouses  10,  saw  mills  3,  gristmills  4,  other 
mills  4,  cotton  factories  1,  spindles  150,  woolen  factories  1, 
cards  2,  bleacheries  1.  tool  factories  2,  small  arms  fac- 
tories 1,  nail  and  tool  machines  2(),  other  works  and 
buildings  142,  tonnage  404.  Acres  of  tillage  land  500, 
orchards  2(»5,  mowing  land  1(>92,  woodland  12,270,  land 
under  water  124.  Tons  of  hay  cut  848,  cords  of  wood 
cut  1<»14. 

Number  of  horses  147,  oxen  20,  cows  314,  steers  and 
heifers  170,  sheep  355,  swine  292. 

Stock  in  trade  $11,350.  Money  at  interest  $09,384. 
Money  on  hand  and  on  draft  $21,214. 

Bank,  railroad  and  insurance  stocks  $85,141. 

Value  of  real  estate  $473,049.  Value  of  personal 
estate  $351,102.      Total  valuation  $824,151. 

Amount  raised,  including  highway  tax,  $0000.19. 
Rate  of  tax  $0.5o  on  $looO. 

Tax  on  polls,  highway  58  cents  and  in  money  $1.50. 

Total  number  of  acres  of  land  taxed  20,4S2.  Acres  of 
land  in  the  town,  by  special  survey,  24,975. 

VALUATION    OF    FREETOWN,    1902. 

Polls  305,  dwellings  385,  grist  mills   1,  bleacheries  1, 

small  arms  manufactories  1,  other  buildings ,  tonnage 

none.      Acres  of  land  taxed  21,571.      Horses  275,  cows  228, 

220 


oxen  2o,  steers  and  heifers  Oo,  sheep  25,  swine  ^'u^,  fowl 
2-2Sr).  Real  estate  §6y3,6T(>,  personal  estate  $114,535,  total 
valuation  $S<>s,205,  amount  raised  $10,970,  rate  of  tax 
$12.70  on  $1000,  poll  tax  $2.  Allies  of  highway  m  the  town 
67,  does  licensed  125,  births  33,  marriages  8,  deaths  19. 

FROM    THE    TOWN    RECORDS. 

Job  Winslow's  yeare  marks  for  his  cretures  is  a  hole 
in  the  right  yeare  and  a  slot  in  the  left  yeare. 

At  a  legal  town  meeting  at  the  public  meeting  house 
July  the  7,  1777,  the  town  of  Freetown  voted  to  set  up  a 
salt  works  at  or  near  Boomer's  Cedars.  Stephen  Borden, 
Jonathan  Read  and  Benjamin  Davis  being  appointed  a 
committee  to  carry  on  the  said  works. 

July  22,  1780.      Salt  works  sold  at  auction  for  one  year 

to  Joseph  Winslow  for  10  Bu.  salt  to  be  paid  in  the  fall. 

No'JE. —  Boomer's  Cedars  were  near  the  present  location  of  the 
Mechanics  Mills,  Fall   River. 

EAST    FREETOWN. 

East  or  New  Freetown,  formerly  a  part  of  Tiverton, 
was  annexed  to  West  or  old  Freetown  in  1717.  The 
easterly  line  of  the  freemen's  purchase  was  the  line  that 
divided  old  Freetown  on  the  east  from  that  part  of  Tiver- 
ton. For  a  time  two  tax  books  were  kept  by  the  assessors. 
One  for  "New  Freetown  not  including  the  District  of  vSlab 
Bridge,"  and  one  for  "  Old  Freetown  including  the  District 
of  Slab  Bridge." 

East  Freetown  on  account  of  its  balmy  atmosphere, 
shady  drives  and  beautiful  ponds,  which  afford  excellent 
boating,  bathing  and  fishing,  is  fast  becoming  a  popular 
summer  resort.  The  visitors  come  from  New  Bedford, 
Taunton,  Boston,  Providence,  New  York  and  other  places. 
The  local  settlements  are  Pleasantville,  Beach  Bluff,  Round 
Hill,  Cleveland  Park  and  Morton  Park. 

EARLY    TRANSPORTATION. 

The  state  house  at  Boston  and  the  Congregational 
Church  at  Assonet,  are  both  on  the  same  meridian,  Boston 

221 


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FAC   SIMILE    OF    AN     ENTRY     IN     THE    FREETOWN     RECORDS 
THE    HAND-WRITING   OF   JOHN    READ,    JR   ,  TOWN    CLERK 


bein<^>-  4o  miles  due  north  of  the  villiage  by  post  road,  and 
45  miles  by  railroad.  Before  the  advent  of  railroads  a  four 
horse  passenger  and  mail  coach  passed  through  the  village 
having  connections  at  Fall  River  and  Taunton  for  other 
important  points.  Baggage  wagons  also  ran  between  New- 
port and  Boston  once  or  twice  a  week.  Rufus  B.  Kinsley, 
the  founder  of  Kinsley's  express,  was  the  proprietor  of  both 
lines,  and  drove  one  of  the  coaches.  There  was  also  a 
stage  coach  line  from  New  Bedford  to  Boston  that  passed 
through  East  Freetown.  The  stage  left  New  Bedford 
everv  Tuesday  morning,  arriving  at  Taunton  in  the  even- 
ing. The  passenger  fare  was  three  pence  (  six  cents  )  per 
mile. 

LATER    TKAXSl'ORTATIOX. 

The  owners  of  the  Fall  River  railroad,  which  was 
opened  to  ]SIyricks  in  June  1^4:5,  and  extended  to  vSouth 
Braintree  in  IN-Ki,  desired  to  run  along  the  east  shore  of  the 
bay,  and  cross  the  river  on  a  draw  bridge  near  Bass  Rock 
Point.  The  survey  then  ran  up  what  is  now  Pleasant 
Street  to  Porters'  pasture,  thence  out  by  the  Tripp  farm. 
This  being  objected  to  by  the  shipping  interests,  they  pro- 
posed to  strike  the  river  near  Lawtons'  wharf  run  along  its 
east  bank,  and  cross  Elm  Street  near  Phillips'  barn.  A 
third  survey  crossed  High  Street  near  the  pound,  and  Elm 
vStreet  near  the  residence  of  George  Clark.  These  locations 
also  being  strongly  objected  to,  they  declared  they  would 
get  as  far  away  from  the  village  as  possible.  They  did  so, 
thev  went  well  up  on  the  side  of  Break  Neck  Hill.  The 
grade  at  the  curve  just  south  of  the  Assonet  Station  is  said 
to  be  seventy  feet  higher  than  at  the  wharf  station  in  Fall 
River,  and  to  be  the  highest  point  above  tide  water 
between  Fall  River  and  Boston. 

The  opening  of  this  railroad  to  ^lyricks  gave  Assonet 
Village  a  route  to  Boston  and  Providence  via  the  New 
Bedford  and  Taunton  railroad  running  through  East  Free- 
town, which  was  opened  in  1S4<»,  the  Taunton  Branch  rail- 


road  running  from  Taunton  to  Mansfield  opened  in  1886, 
and  the  Boston  and  Providence  railroad  opened  in  ls35. 
The  extension  of  the  Fall  River  railroad  to  South  Braintree 
gave  the  village  a  second  route  to  Boston,  via  Middleboro 
and  Brockton,  and  the  building  of  the  road  from  vSomerset 
Junction  to  South  Braintree  a  third  route,  via  Taunton  and 
Randolph.  There  is  little  choice  in  these  routes  as  regards 
distance.  The  railroad  stations  in  the  town  are  East  Free- 
town, and  Braleys  on  the  New  Bedford  road,  and  Assonet 
and  Crystal  Spring  on  the  Fall  River  road.  The  morning 
train  to,  and  the  evening  train  from  Boston  will  stop  at 
Terry's  on  signal.  An  electric  railway  from  New  Bedford 
to  Middleboro,  passing  through  East  Freetown  was  built  in 
18!t!».  A  franchise  has  been  granted  for  an  electric  road 
from  Fall  River  to  Taunton,  via  Assonet  and  Berkle}'. 

RAILROAD    ACCIDENTS. 

Soon  after  the  opening  of  the  Fall  River  railroad  a 
freight  train  ran  off  the  north  end  of  the  turn  out  at  the 
Assonet  station,  ditching  the  locomotive  and  several  freight 
cars.      No  one  was  injured. 

On  account  of  a  washout  at  the  time  of  the  freshet  in 
1886  a  train  of  empty  coal  cars  plunged  into  Hopping  Paul 
Brook,  killing  the  fireman. 

Before  daylight  October  'iiy,  I860,  the  two  rear  passen- 
ger cars  of  the  steamboat  train  from  Fall  River  to  Boston, 
which  was  running  very  fast  at  the  time,  left  the  rails  at 
the  Forge  crossing  and  were  dragged  over  the  sleepers 
some  distance,  when  the  rear  car  struck  a  wood  pile  and 
was  thrown  on  its  side.  In  this  position  it  was  dragged 
about  thirty  rods  further.  This  car  contained  thirty-five 
passengers.  None  of  the  passengers  were  killed,  but  sev- 
eral were  severely  injured,  including  a  seven  years'  old 
child  and  a  Mrs.  Drinkwater,  who  had  her  left  arm 
wrenched  off  at  the  shoulder,  and  her  right  arm  dislo- 
cated. The  late  Gov.  John  A.  Andrew  was  a  passenger 
on  the  train,  he  having  been  to  Fall  River  to  speak  at  a 

2:34 


political  meeting-  the  night  before.  The  cause  of  the  acci- 
dent was  the  breaking  of  a  rail  that  spanned  a  small  cul- 
vert at  the  Forge  crossing. 

There  was  a  smash-up  of  freight  trains  on  the  New 
Bedford  railroad  between  East  Freetown  and  Braleys 
stations,  about  the  year  188<^i.      No  one  was  injured. 

( ;()()!)    ROADS. 

At  the  annual  town  meeting  in  March,  ll»o2,  an  appro- 
priation was  made  and  a  committee  chosen  to  purchase  a 
stone  crusher,  with  a  view  of  improving  the  condition  of 
the  roads  in  the  town. 

The  State  Highway  Commission  allotted  five  thousand 
dollars  of  the  state's  appropriation,  for  the  building  of  a 
state  road  in  East  Freetown,  from  the  New  Bedford  to 
the  Lakeville  lines,  on  the  county  road,  a  distance  of  three 
and  one-third  miles.  The  stone  crusher  after  its  purchase 
was  located  there,  and  during  the  season  about  one  mile 
of  the  road  was  built.  For  the  season  of  1H08,  the  State 
Highway  Commission  has  allotted  i$H5(M'  for  the  continua- 
tion of  this  work. 

At  the  annual  town  meeting  in  March,  1903,  $10oo  of 
the  town's  appropriation  of  $ii5<)0  for  highways,  was  allotted 
for  the  building  of  a  macadam  road  from  the  East  Freetown 
road  station  towards  the  county  road  provided,  however, 
that  the  citizens  of  East  Freetown  raise  ^^oOO  by  subscrip- 
tion for  the  same  purpose. 

THE    OLD    CORNER    STORE. 

It  was  in  181(»  that  two  young  men  from  ^liddleboro, 
having  travelled  through  south-eastern  Massachusetts, 
with  a  view  of  finding  a  promising  location  for  business, 
decided  that  Assonet  Village  seemed  to  have  far  better 
prospects  than  any  other  place  in  Bristol  County ;  so  Earl 
Sampson  and  John  Hinds  opened  a  store  on  the  south- 
west corner  of  Main  and  Water  streets.  This  firm  was 
dissolved    the    next    year    by    the    death    of     Mr.    Hinds. 

225 


Capt.  John  Nichols   was  then    taken   into   partnership  by 
Mr.  Sampson,  and  the  firm  of  Sampson  &  Nichols  became 
a  noted  one,  and  did  a  lucrative  business  for  many  years ; 
people  coming  to  it  from   all   the   surrounding  towns  for 
their  supplies.      About    1S2<>   the   old   store   building  was 
removed  and    the    present    one   erected.       This   firm   was 
succeeded  by  Capt.   Sylvanus  S.  Payne,  who  in  turn  was 
succeeded  by  his  son-in-law,  John  W.  Peabody.      In   1869 
Mr.  Peabody  moved  into  a  new   building  he   had  erected 
on  the  opposite  side  of  Main  street,  and  the  old  store  was 
converted  into  a  tack  factory  by  the  vStar  Tack  Co.      After 
a  few  years  it  was  re-opened  as  a  grocery  store  by  E.  E.  & 
J.    H.   Winslow.      This  firm  was  succeeded  by  James  H. 
Winslow,  who  at  the  present  time  has  a  meat  market  in 
connection  with  his  grocery  and  grain  departments.      The 
oi^hce  of  Dr.  Thomas  G.  Nichols  and  also  the  town  library 
were  once  located  in  a  room  over  the  grocery  store,  entrance 
to  the   same   being  by  an   outside   flight  of  stairs    on   the 
north  end  of  the  building.      This  rcjom  had  previously  been 
used  as  a  law  ofiice.      William  vStrobndge  was  a  part  owner 
of  the  building  and  he  occupied  the  south  end  of  it  at  one 
time  as  a  store.      Since  his  occupancy  this  end  of  the  build- 
ing has  been  used  for  various   purposes,  at   one   time  as  a 
harness  shop,    at  another   time  as  a   barber's  shop.      For 
several  years  it  was  used  as  a  school  room  for  the  Water 
street  district  school.      Town  meetings  were  at  one  time 
held  in  it.      The  firm  of   N.    R.    Davis   8z   Co.  at  one  time 
used  it  in  connection  with  the  upper  floor  of  the  building 
as  a  gun  manufactory.      The  basement  at  the  south  end  of 
the  building  was  for  many  years  used  as  a  tenement. 

PASTIMES. 

On  Fast  and  Thanksgiving  days  "in  ye  olden  time" 

many  of  the  young  people  of  the    village   repaired  to  the 

top  of  Joshua's  ^Mountain.      Here  they  could  gaze  on   the 

blue  hills  of  Milton,  and  chisel  their  names  in  granite.      Old 

style  base  ball  was  also  played  on  these  holidays  in  Nichols' 

pasture. 

22(i 


Clicrry  parties  to  Steep  Brook,  both  by  land  and  water, 
were  much  in  vogne  fifty  and  more  years  ago.  The  very 
sweet  black  cherry,  of  medium  size  that  they  sought  did 
not  thrive  north  of  the  vStephen  Barnaby  farm,  or  south  of 
Bovvenville.  They  either  picked  the  cherries  on  a  half  lay, 
or  paid  a  few  cents  per  quart  for  what  they  picked.  This 
species  of  cherry  is  now  almost  extinct. 

Berry  parties  to  the  Narrows  afforded  both  pleasure  and 
profit.      Capt.  Welcome  Hathaway  with  the  fine  sail  boats 


■ 

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NATHANIEL     PORTER  (See  Page  I'.H.) 

Born    at   Plymouth,   Mass.,  June  3,   1805  Died   at   East    Bridgewater,   Mass  ,  April    26,  1880. 

that  he  built  himself,  and  later  his  son  Don  Carlos  Hawes 
Hathaway  were  ever  ready  to  accommodate  these  parties. 
Black  huckleberries  grew  in  large  quantities  on  both  sides 
of  the  river  at  the  Narrows.  The  pickers  always  returned 
with  well  filled  ba.skets  unless  thev  had  spent  too  much 
time  along  the  shore,  or  at  Babbitt's  bowling  allev.  Some 
sold  their  surplus  berries  to  James  M.  Phillips,  who  sent 
them  to  the  Boston  market,  others  dried  them  for  winter  use. 


THE  MUSTER  (iROUND. 

What  is  now  the  town  Cemetery  was  formerly  known 
as  the  Muster  Ground.  Here  seventy  or  more  years  ago 
all  the  military  companies  in  this  vicinity  had  to  assemble 
annually  for  election  of  officers,  drill  and  such  other  duties 
as  might  be  required  of  them.  Delinquents  were  often 
brought  into  camp  under  guard,  and  required  to  perform 
military  duty.  The  popular  ration  was  muster  cake  and 
cider.  The  muster  cake  was  a  kind  of  gingerbread  baked 
in  loaves  about  six  by  eight  inches  in  dimensions  and  scored 
across  the  top  three  or  four  times  both  ways.  Many  relics 
of  the  Assonet  Light  Infantry  that  formerly  mustered  here 
are  in  existence  today,  notably  the  sword  of  Capt.  Nathan 
T.  vStrange,  the  last  commanding  officer  of  the  company. 
Tradition  says  that  there  were  "hot  times  in  the  old  town" 
muster  days. 

THE    FIRE    DEPARTMENT. 

The  Water  Witch  Engine  Company,  Elbridge  M. 
Martin,  Foreman,  flourished  in  the  middle  of  the  last 
century,  resplendent  at  times  in  red  shirts,  black  panta- 
loons and  shiny  hats  and  belts.  When  out  for  practice 
the  boys  backed  their  "tub"  into  the  stream  at  the  Elm 
Street  bridge  and  filled  her  from  leather  fire  buckets  of 
which  two  or  three  hung  from  the  machine.  After  fasten- 
ing on  the  two  covers  they  would  drag  her  up  to  the  Con- 
gregational Church  yard,  the  self-acting  bell  in  the  mean 
time  tinkling  merrily,  much  to  the  delight  of  the  village 
urchins.  If  she  was  half  full  on  arrival  at  the  church 
yard,  they  would  "shake  her  up"  in  an  attempt  to  put 
water  over  the  church  spire,  the  Foreman  all  the  while 
shouting  "Meet  the  brakes!",  "Meet  "em  good,  boys!", 
and  doing  his  best  to  inspire  the  men  with  his  unbounded 
enthusiasm.  They  could  throw  water  over  the  spire  all 
right  if  the  circumstances  were  favorable. 

On  one  occasion,  the  machine  being  loaded,  Mr.  Apollos 
Pierce  came  along  driving  an  ox  team.      He  stopped  his 

228 


team,  smoothed  his  braided  leather  whip  lash  down  beside 
its  oaken  handle,  assumed  a  position  of  calm  expectancy, 
and  in  the  vernacular  of  his  kind  drawled  out,  "Now  I 
want  to  see  that  air  thing  work."  The  Foreman  truin- 
peted  the  command  "  Play  away  !"  The  Hoseman  clapped 
his  hand  over  the  nozzle,  held  back  the  sputtering,  spatter- 
ing water  just  a  second,  and  then  turned  the  hose  squarely 
upon  ]\Ir.  Pierce  and  drenched  him  from  head  to  foot. 

The  machine  itself  was  a  veritable  freak.  The  pump 
was  worked  by  two  horizontal  brake  bars,  pivoted  to  the 
top  of  the  box,  and  having  a  handled  outrigger  attached 
to  each  of  the  four  ends.  It  took  twelve  persons  to  man 
the  brakes,  one  on  the  ends  of  each  bar,  and  two  on  each 
outrigger.  In  action  she  was  a  sort  of  push  and  pull  affair. 
It  is  a  matter  of  regret  that  the  machine  was  sent  to  the 
Town  Farm  for  storage,  w^here  it  was  allowed  to  decay. 
As  a  curiosity  at  World's  Fairs  it  would  easily  have  divided 
the  honors  with  the  original  locomotive  engine. 

But  the  Water  Witch  has  something  to  her  credit. 
She  extinguished  a  fire  that  had  made  considerable  head- 
way in  the  upper  story  of  Ephraim  Atwood's  grocery  store 
that  stood  about  six  feet  northeast  of  the  dwelling  house 
now  owned  by  Ralph  H.  Francis,  and  that  was  flanked  on 
the  other  side  by  a  barn.  Undoubtedly  she  saved  these 
three  buildings  from  destruction. 

Atwood's  store  was  for  years  the  Democratic  head- 
quarters for  the  town.  Here  crackers  and  cheese  were 
dispensed  town  meeting  days  to  the  faithful  who  had  jour- 
neyed from  the  far  east.  Town  meetings  were  then  held 
in  a  store  room  in  the  house  that  stands  near  the  Elm 
Street  Bridge.  Later  they  were  held  in  a  room  in  the 
south  end  of  the  building  now  occupied  by  James  H.  Wins- 
low  as  a.  grocery  store.  Still  later  the  town  meetings  were 
held  in  the  building  on  the  south  side  of  Water  Street  that 
had  formerly  been  the  store  of  Capt.  Allen  Payne.  The 
move  from  this  building  was  into  the  present  Town  Hall, 
built  in  isss,  Charles  C.  Marble  of  Fall  River  architect  and 

229 


builder.  The  building  formerly  occupied  by  Mr.  Atwood 
was  moved  to  the  east  side  of  Pleasant  Street,  converted 
into  a  dwelling  house,  and  is  now  owned  by  George  B. 
Cudworth. 

The  Water  Witch  engine  and  the  never  to  be  forgotten, 
if  you  ever  saw  it  once,  town  hearse,  that  was  for  many 
years  in  charge  of  Joshua  vShove,  as  undertaker,  and  which 
for  unique  build  was  a  fit  companion  for  the  engine,  were 
stored  in  a  small  building  that  stood  just  south  of  the 
present  location  of  the  public  library,  and  known  as  the 
hearse  house. 

As  a  result  of  the  fire  of  October  5,  ISSO,  that  destroyed 
the  houses  occupied  by  Joseph  H.  Clark  and  Henry  M. 
Chace,  and  damaged  the  vSouth  Church ;  and  the  burning 
of  the  barn  of  John  D.  Wilson  that  was  struck  by  lightning 
some  months  later,  the  following  article  was  inserted  in  the 
warrant  calling  a  special  town  meeting  Augusi  2<>,  Issl: 
Article  VII. — "  To  hear  a  report  of  the  selectmen  in  regard 
to  the  cost  of  Fire  Extinguishing  Apparatus  and  to  take 
such  action  in  regard  to  the  purchase  of  the  same  as  the 
town  may  deem  advisable." 

The  action  taken  on  the  above  article  was  to  accept 
the  report  of  the  selectmen  in  regard  to  the  fire  apparatus, 
to  appropriate  the  sum  of  eight  hundred  dollars  for  said 
apparatus,  and  to  appoint  a  committee  of  three  to  procure 
the  fire  apparatus  and  to  have  charge  of  the  same.  The 
committee  appointed  Benjamin  F.  Aiken,  George  B.  Cud- 
worth  and  James  A.  Manchester,  purchased  the  engine 
Narragansett  of  the  town  of  Warren,  R.  I.  The  engine 
was  built  by  L.  Button  &  Co.,  Waterford,  N.  Y.,  and  at 
the  present  time  is  in  good  condition.  A  hook  and  ladder 
truck  was  purchased  of  the  town  of  Franklin,  Mass.  A 
hose  reel  and  eight  hundred  feet  of  hose  were  also  pur- 
chased. Ample  provision  was  made  for  storing  the  ap- 
paratus in  the  town  hall  when  it  was  built.  The  present 
fire  department  ( l!»o;!)  consists  of  a  board  of   engineers  or- 

2;]0 


ganized  under  the  state  law:  Ralph  H.  Francis,  Chief 
Engineer,  Levi  ]SI.  Hathaway,  Andrew  B.  Pierce  and 
Eugene  A.  Herbert,  Assistant  Engineers. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  August  13,  18iM),  fire  was  dis- 
covered at  the  gun  shop  on  Water  Street,  Assonet  Village. 
It  had  started  on  the  outside  of  the  ell,  near  the  ground. 
By  hard  work  on  the  part  of  a  few  individuals  it  was  held 
in  check  until  the  arrival  of  the  fire  engine,  and  although 
it  had  by  that  time  reached  the  roof  of  the  building  it  was 
quickly  extinguished  after  the  engine  was  brought  into 
action. 

Amono;  the  buildings  that  have  been  burned  at  Assonet 
Village  and  vicinity  within  about  sixty  years  are  the  dwel- 
lings owned  or  once  occupied  by  Tisdale  Briggs,  John  S. 
Thomas,  James  Hyland,  Bradford  Clark,  Ambrose  W. 
Hathaway,  John  H.  Campfield,  with  barn,  James  Winslow, 
James  W.  E.  Clark,  William  Richardson,  Solomon  Cum- 
mings,  Bailey  Brightman,  Hiram  Brightman,  Joseph  H. 
Clark,  Henry  M.  Chace,  Philip  T.  Evans,  with  barn,  vSeth 
Howland,  Apollos  Pierce,  with  two  barns,  Arthur  Demor- 
anville,  George  Sisson  and  Ebenezer  Briggs ;  the  barns  of 
Williams  Winslow,  Elnathan  Hathaway,  George  Cum- 
mings,  William  Copeland,  Philip  E.  Tripp  and  John  D. 
Wilson :  Henry  Porter's  nail  factory,  John  Crane's  two 
nail  factories,  William  Thorp's  waste  mill,  the  old  furnace 
building,  the  freight  house  at  Assonet  Station,  Crystal 
Spring  Station,  an  unoccupied  building  of  Ambrose  Dean, 
and  the  gun  shop  of  N.  R.  Davis  &  Co.,  in  isiU. 

THE    ASSONET    FAIRS. 

In  1867  Dr.  Nathan  Durfee,  of  Fall  River,  presented 
to  the  Congregational  Society  of  Freetown  the  beautiful 
pipe  organ  that  was  at  that  time  standing  in  the  old  Music 
Hall,  Fall  River.  To  make  room  for  the  organ,  and  also 
for  the  choir  which  formerly  had  been  located  in  the 
gallery  at  the  east  end  of  the  church,  the  building  was  ex- 

281 


tended  westward  twenty  feet.     A  much  needed  vestry  and  a 
kitchen  were  at  the  same  time  provided  for  in  the  basement. 

The  Hon.  Amos  A.  Barstow,  of  Providence,  R.  I., 
kindly  presented  the  society  with  a  furnace  for  heating-  the 
building.  The  monster  turtle  back  stove,  with  a  big 
crack  in  its  side,  and  its  scores  of  feet  of  stove  pipe,  sus- 
pended with  long  wires,  which  ran  over  the  center  aisle 
and  up  through  the  high  ceiling,  was  removed  from  the 
double  pew.  near  the  door,  it  had  so  long  occupied,  and  in 
which  the  Sabbath  school  boys  so  delighted  to  sit  cold 
winter  days,  often  to  the  annoyance  of  Deacon  Benjamin 
Burt,  who,  for  many  years,  took  the  care  of  the  old  stove. 

During  the  year  an  association  was  organized  whose 
object  was  to  raise  funds  for  the  erection  of  a  parsonage, 
and  to  assist  in  paying  the  expenses  of  the  society.  At  a 
meeting  of  this  sssociation  Dr.  Thomas  G.  Nichols  of 
Assonet,  John  AI.  Deane  and  George  T.  Hathaway  of  Fall 
River  were  chosen  a  committee  with  full  power  in  the 
matter.  Friends  of  the  society  subscribed  $2275,  and  the 
above  committee  inaugurated  a  series  of  entertainments 
that  proved  both  enjoyable  and  profitable.  There  being 
no  public  hall  in  the  village  a  temporary  floor  was  laid 
over  the  pews  of  the  church  and  on  ]March  '^,  4  and  5,  ISHS, 
a  fair  and  entertainment  was  given.  At  this  fair  the  organ 
was  played  for  the  first  time  in  public  at  its  new  location. 
Professor  Whiting  of  Boston  presided  at  the  organ  the  first 
evening.  The  Fall  River  Chorus  Society,  2<i  voices,  Ly- 
man W.  Deane,  director  and  organist,  entertained  the  com- 
pany the  second  evening.  On  the  third  evening  Professor 
Gleazen  of  Providence,  R.  I.,  presided  at  the  organ,  and 
there  was  vocal  music  by  local  artists.  There  was  a  special 
train  from  Fall  River  the  second  evening.  The  net  pro- 
ceeds of  this  fair  were  one  thousand  dollars. 

The  Oratorio  of  Esther  that  had  been  given  with 
pleasing  success  in  Fall  River  under  the  direction  of 
Charles  H.  Robbins,  was  repeated   in   the   Congregational 

232 


Church  at  Assonet,    April  2,  1868.     The   net  proceeds   of 
this  entertainment  were  one  hundred  dollars. 

August  20,  1868,  the  society  gave  a  clambake  at  Tis- 
paquin  grove.  A  special  train  brought  a  large  number  of 
friends  from  Fall  River.  The  ^Mechanics  Band  of  Fall 
River  furnished  music  for  the  occasion.  A  heavy  down- 
pour of  rain  commenced  while  those  at  the  second  tables 
were  eating.  The  gross  receipts  were  $599.68  and  the  net 
proceeds  of  the  bake  were  $335.77. 

February  22,  23  and  24,  1870  a  floor  was  again  laid 
over  the  pews  and  a  fair  held  in  the  church.  The  choir 
assisted  by  friends  gave  a  concert  the  first  evening,  Benja- 
min A.  Eddy,  organist.  The  Fall  River  Glee  Club,  Ly- 
man W.  Deane,  director  and  organist  entertained  the 
company  the  second  evening,  and  L.  vSoule  of  Taunton 
director  and  organist,  assisted  by  George  Bridgham,  of 
Taunton,  and  others  furnished  the  entertainment  the  third 
evening.  A  special  train  was  run  from  Fall  River  the 
second  evening.  Much  enthusiasm  and  inerriment  was 
produced  by  the  voting,  at  ten  cents  per  vote,  of  dift'erent 
articles  to  persons  in  the  audience.  In  these  friendly  con- 
tests an  afghan  brought  $66. 5<),  a  bed  quilt  $23. 9<),  and  a 
clothes  wringer  $26.  The  total  receipts  from  the  voting 
contests  were  $271.  The  door  receipts  were  $177,  the 
gross  receipts  $1095.50,  and  the  net  proceeds  of  the  fair 
$611.31. 

The  fair  of  ls71  was  held  in  the  church  February  28, 
and  March  1,  2  and  3.  Lyman  W.  Deane  and  friends  of 
Fall  River  furnished  the  vocal  and  instrumental  music. 
There  was  a  special  train  from  Fall  River  two  evenings. 
In  the  voting  contests  two  breakfast  jackets  brought  $7s.40, 
a  sofa  pillow  $41.2<».  A  cradle,  that  was  disposed  of  four 
times  before  it  went  to  a  young  man  that  decided  to  keep 
it  $51.23.  A  saw  and  saw  horse  $40.34-  and  a  blacking 
brush  $27.35.  The  receipts  from  the  voting  were  $250.30. 
The  door  receipts  were  $218,  the  gross  receipts  $1243.76 
and  the  net  receipts  $»)29.33. 

238 


The  next  fair  was  held  in  tlie  church  February  20,  21, 
22  and  23,  1872.  The  programme  for  the  first  evening 
was  vocal  music  by  Mr.  Warren,  George  Crane  and  Miss 
Munroe  of  Taunton,  and  Miss  Deane,  of  Somerset,  Miss 
Ida  Burt,  of  Taunton,  pianist.  Their  selections  were  of 
a  high  order  and  were  well  rendered.  The  band  from  the 
Perkins  Institution  for  the  Blind,  of  Boston,  furnished  the 
music  for  the  second  evening.  There  was  a  concert  the 
third  evening  under  the  direction  of  Lyinan  W.  Deane,  of 
Fall  River.  The  solos  of  Charles  H.  Ryder,  John  W. 
Pritchard  and  Velona  W.  Haughwout,  of  Fall  River,  and 
George  Bridgham,  of  Taunton  called  forth  rounds  of  ap- 
plause. 

The  voting  was  decidedly  interesting  and  amusing. 
A  sofa  pillow  was  voted  to  Mrs.  Lyman  W.  Deane,  of  Fall 
River.  A  fancy  chair  the  embroidering  of  which  was  the 
work  of  Mrs.  John  M.  Deane  went  for  $156.40  netting  the 
society  $105.70.  Mrs.  Col.  Frank  Allen,  of  Providence, 
R.  I.,  received  lOSo  out  of  156-1  votes  cast  and  was  declared 
the  winner.  The  laziest  man  in  the  audience,  being  called 
for  to  exercise  with  the  buck-saw  on  a  good  sized  hickory 
log,  several  candidates  were  brought  out.  After  a  spirited 
contest  in  which  63<>  votes  were  cast,  a  well  known  and 
jovial  young  man  from  Fall  River  was  declared  "it." 
This  young  man  had  attended  the  whole  series  of  Assonet 
Fairs,  and  he  quickly  sized  up  the  crowd  that  unsolicited 
by  him,  was  running  his  campaign,  while  he  was  spend- 
ing his  money  and  doing  his  best  to  elect  some  other 
fellow.  He  had  decided  in  his  own  mind  not  to  put  him- 
self, for  that  evening  at  least,  in  the  hands  of  his  friends. 
With  no  malice  and  aforethought  he  placed  himself  be- 
tween "the  gang"  and  the  outer  door.  After  the  polls 
were  closed  scouting  parties  sent  in  different  directions 
failed  to  find  him.  The  doorkeeper  averred  that  "he  did 
not  speak  as  he  passed  by,"  and  that  he  disdainfully  refused 
a  return  check  proffered  him. 

234 


It  cost  the  same  enthusiastic  company  $51.60  to  place 
a  bottle  of  soothing  syrup  where  they  thought  it  would  do 
the  most  good,  or  at  least,  where  it  would  make  the  most 
sport  for  them. 

Special  trains  were  run  from  Fall  River  the  first  and 
third  evenings  of  the  fair.  About  9U0  were  present  the 
third  evening,  4oO  of  them  coming  from  Fall  River.  The 
crush  at  the  church  was  so  great  that  many  of  the  village 
people  retired  in  order  to  make  room  for  the  visitors  from 
abroad.  The  door  receipts  were  $225,  showing  that  there 
were  2250  paid  admissions.  The  receipts  from  the  voting 
amounted  to  $370.30.  The  gross  receipts  were  $1419.09 
and  the  net  receipts  $777. Bl. 

The  last  fair  inaugurated  by  this  committee  was  held 
in  the  church  March  -1,  5,  H  and  7,  1S73.  An  Old  Folks 
Concert,  Lyman  W.  Deane,  Director  and  Organist,  was 
given  the  second  evening  of  the  fair,  and  George  Bridg- 
ham  of  Taunton  also  entertained  the  audience  with  his 
inimitable  character  songs.  The  entertainment  the  third 
evening  was  by  W.  H.  Hunt  of  Boston,  humorist,  and  T. 
P.  Ryder,  pianist.  Over  six  hundred  round  trip  tickets 
were  sold  on  the  special  trains  that  were  run  from  Fall 
River  the  second  and  third  evenings  of  the  fair.  There 
were  over  seven  hundred  present  the  second  evening,  five 
car  loads  coming  on  the  special  train,  and  many  in  the 
eighty  teams  that  were  counted  in  the  village  that  even- 
ing. The  door  receipts  were  $234,  showing  a  sale  of  234(» 
admission  tickets.  The  receipts  from  voting  were  $111, 
the  gross  receipts  $1121.32  and  the  net  receipts  $454. 51.  A 
turkey  supper  was  served  in  the  vestry  at  all  these  fairs, 
using  on  the  average  3<>i)  pounds  of  turkey. 

The  other  principal  features  of  these  fairs  were  the 
confectionery,  ice  cream,  cake,  lemonade,  flower  and  fancy 
tables,  coat  room,  art  gallery,  supper  room  and  the  auction 
the  last  evenings  of  the  fairs,  when  no  especial  entertain- 
ment was  provided. 

235 


At  the  fair  of  1872  the  Washington  Read  and  the 
Daniel  McGowan  tables  each  netted  fifty  dollars.  There 
was  also  a  Read  table  at  the  fair  of  1873.  A  four  page 
paper  was  also  published  in  connection  with  the  clambake 
and  two  or  three  of  the  fairs.  The  paper  published  in  con- 
nection with  fair  of  1808  netted  $200,  and  that  of  1870 
$157.  By  this  series  of  entertainments  the  society  was 
benefitted  to  the  amount  of  $3!»os.53. 

Just  previous  to  1868  the  society  had  found  it  difficult 
to  raise  $300  per  year  to  pay  the  minister,  but  for  several 
ensuing  years  found  no  difficulty  in  paying  $13<»(),  annual 
expenses.  In  the  work  required  of  this  committee  Dr. 
Nichols  attended  more  especially  to  the  village  end  of 
affairs,  Mr.  Hathaway  paid  particular  attention  to  Fall 
River,  and  Mr.  Deane  conducted  aft'airs  during  the  enter- 
tainments taking  especial  charge  of  the  voting. 

At  the  close  of  the  fair  of  1873  this  committee  that 
during  the  five  years  of  its  existence  had  worked  in  perfect 
harmony  within  itself;  that  had  planned  and  carried  out 
so  successfully  this  series  of  entertainments,  and  that  had 
worked  the  enthusiasm  of  the  friends  of  the  society  up  to 
such  a  pleasing  and  liberal  pitch,  declined  to  serve  any 
longer,  and  the  society  has  not  held  a  real  fair  since  that 
time. 

The  last  report  of  the  treasurer  of  the  Association,  be- 
fore mentioned  was  made  in  October  1874.  There  was 
then  no  cash  balance  left  on  hand  and  presumably  the  or- 
ganization went  out  of  business  at  that  time. 

The  parsonage  had  not  materialized.  vSome  years 
later  there  was  talk  of  building  a  chapel,  but  there  being 
a  difference  of  opinion  as  to  whether  it  should  be  a  chapel 
or  parsonage  that  should  be  built,  the  matter  was  dropped. 

In  August  1891  the  church  extended  a  call  to  the  Rev. 
Leonard  Woolsey  Bacon,  D.  D.,  of  Norwich,  Conn.  The 
call  was  accepted  by  Dr.  Bacon  who  is  a  hard  worker  not 
only  in  the  spiritual  but  also  in  the  temporal  field.  Since 
that  time  the  church  building,  that  was  so  badly  out  of  re- 

286 


pair,  that  it  was  pronounced  dangerous  to  ring  the  bell  in 
the  steeple,  has  been  very  thoroughly  repaired  and  painted  ; 
the  organ  that  had  been  somewhat  neglected  put  in  proper 
condition,  and  the  heating  apparatus  improved.  All  this 
at  an  outlay  of  about  $lt)<»0. 

The  heirs  of  Mrs.  Hannah  G.  Payson,  of  Boston,  who 
in  her  life  time  was  a  staunch  and  liberal  friend  of  the  so- 
ciety, owned  the  Earl  Sampson  place  on  North  Main  vStreet, 
which  had  been  rented  several  years  as  a  parsonage.  They 
offered  to  sell  it  to  the  society  at  a  very  favorable  price. 
The  offer  was  accepted,  and  the  society  has  since  its  pur- 
chase repaired  and  improved  the  house  at  an  expense  of 
about  $5i)0. 

It  is  safe  to  say  that  as  regards  temporal  matters  the 
societv  never  before  was  in  as  good  condition  as  it  finds 
itself  today. 

THE    GOLD    FEVER. 

Soon  after  the  discovery  of  gold  in  California  in  1849 
nearlv  seventy  of  our  citizens,  mostly  young  men,  went 
there  in  search  of  the  precious  metal.  Not  all  found  and 
retained  it  in  liberal  quantities.  This  rapid  emigration  to 
California  was  a  striking  feature  of  the  times.  HS  ships, 
87  barks,  41  brigs  and  l'>  schooners,  or  l.")!  vessels  in  all 
cleared  from  the  port  of  Boston,  for  California  in  one  year 
following  the  discovery  of  gold  in  that  state.  Thousands 
who  left  their  homes  with  high  expectations  of  sudden 
wealth  soon  learned  that  "all  is  not  gold  that  glitters," 
and  that  "most  that  is  good  is  not  gold."  The  town  has 
never  fully  recovered  from  the  disheartening  effect  of  this 
sudden  and  severe  drain  upon  its  young  manhood.  The 
following  is  Freetown's  list  of  '4!>ers : 

Tracey  Allen,  Ephraim  Anthony,  Edmund  Anthony, 
Levi  N.  Baker,  Stephen  B.  Barnaby,  Daniel  Bennett, 
Samuel  R.  Bragg,  Lorenzo  D.  Braley,  Albert  Briggs, 
Benjamin  Burt,  Jr.,  Peter  Carnoe,  George  Chace,  Thomas 
Evans,  Thomas  Evans,  Jr.,  James  Gardner,  Benjamin  M. 
Grinnell,  John  Grinnell,  Edwin  Harris,  Barnaby  W.  Hath- 

237 


away,  Benjamin  Hathaway,  Charles  W.  Hathaway,  Ed- 
mund D.  Hathaway,  Edmund  V.  Hathaway,  Elias  Hath- 
away, Gideon  P.  Hatheway,  Guilford  Hathaway,  John 
Hathaway,  Valentine  Hathaway,  Ebenezer  Jones,  Lorenzo 
D.  Lawton,  Paul  Lawrence,  Arad  T.  Leach,  Charles  Mes- 
sears,  Eleazer  Nichols,  John  Nichols,  George  Payne,  Rev, 
John  Perry,  Luther  Pickens,  Galen  Pierce,  Philip  Pierce, 
Thomas  W.  Pierce,  Edward  Pratt,  Elisha  L.  Pratt,  John 
V.  Pratt,  Benjamin  Porter,  Bradford  G.  Porter,  Frederic 
Porter,  Henry  Porter,  Robert  Porter,  Joseph  Robinson, 
Samuel  Robinson,  William  Robinson,  Joseph  Rounseville, 
Walter  vS.  Rounseville,  Nathan  vSpooner,  Gilbert  wStaples, 
William  B.  Staples,  James  Taber,  John  Tew,  William 
Williams,  Albert  Winslow,  Henry  Winslow,  Benjamin 
T.  Winslow. 

THE    TEMPERANCE    SOCIETIES. 

The  writer  has  been  asked  to  give  an  account  of  the 
temperance  movement  in  Freetown.  He  acknowledges  at 
once  his  inability  to  give  more  than  an  outline  of  the 
different  temperance  societies  that  have  from  time  to  time 
existed  in  the  town  for  the  support  and  furtherance  of  this 
most  worthy  cause. 

In  its  early  days  Freetown  was  no  exception  to  the 
general  rule,  and  New  England  rum  with  other  spirituous 
liquors  were  staple  articles  of  commerce  with  all  its  mer- 
chants. 

The  great  temperance  wave  that  was  started  in  Bal- 
timore, by  six  reformed  drunkards,  came  sweeping  over 
the  northern  section  of  the  country,  and  Bristol  county, 
Freetown  included,  became  deeply  interested  in  the  move- 
ment. vSoon  after  the  temperance  agitation  commenced  in 
Assonet  three  of  its  traders  resolved  among  themselves 
that  they  would  no  longer  keep  intoxicants  for  sale.  They 
spilled  what  stock  they  had  on  hand  into  the  gutter,  and 
ever  after  faithfully  kept  the  pledge  they  had  made  with 
each  other.  Williams  Winslow,  who  kept  the  Assonet 
Hotel,  was  one   of  the   pioneer    temperance    men    of    the 

2'dS 


county.  As  early  as  IS.'io  he  stopped  selling  ardent  spirits 
at  his  hotel.  For  this  he  was  more  or  less  persecuted. 
One  night  several  augur  holes  were  bored  into  his  sign 
post.  In  the  first  week  of  (3ctober,  1835,  at  a  meeting  held 
in  the  Congregational  church,  Assonet  Village,  the 
Assonet  Temperance  Society  was  organized,  a  constitution 
and  by-laws  adopted  and  the  following  officers  elected : 
W.  H.  Eddy,  President;  A.  B.  Crane,  vSecretary  and 
Joseph  Staples,  Treasurer. 

The  records  of  the  society  show  that  up  to  and  includ- 
ing the  meeting  of  June  7,  1841,  about   one  hundred   and 
fifty  persons,  male  and  female,  had  signed  the  pledge  and 
become  members  of  the  organization.      There  is  nothing 
to  show  just  when  this  society  was  disbanded,  but  there  is 
no  doubt   that  it   was   in  existence   some  years   after  the 
above  date.      There  is  convincing  proof  in  the  records  that 
there  were  several  earnest,   consistent  and   fearless  advo- 
cates of  the  temperance  cause  connected  with  this  society. 
The  caustic  resolutions,  that  they   from   time  to   time   in- 
troduced and  advocated,  tended  at  least  to  make   some  of 
the  meetings  of  the  society  quite  exciting,  and  to  demon- 
strate just  how  far  some  temperance  advocates  were  will- 
ing to  go  in  furtherance  of  the  temperance  cause  when  it 
came  to  choosing    between    it    and    personal    or    political 
interests.      From    the    start    reported    violations    of    their 
pledge  by  members  of  the  society  gave   numerous   special 
investigating  committees  much   work   to  do,   and  caused 
more  or  less  friction  in  the  society.     Often   these  reports 
were   started   by  enemies  of  the  temperance   movement, 
and  were  not  only  proved  to  be  false  but  also  quite   mali- 
cious.     Some    members    however    humbly   acknowledged 
their  delinquenc}',  expressed  their  regret  and  asked  to  be 
retained  as  members  of  the  society,  promising  to  do  better 
in  the   future.      Others   unblushingly  pleaded   guilty   and 
asked  to  have  their   names   blotted   from   the  pledge   and 
from  the  roll  of  membership.      It  may  be   said   that   some 
of  the  latter  continued  the  immoderate  use   of  intoxicants 

239 


as  long  as  they  lived.  In  the  winter  of  18-iO  the  society 
appointed  several  committees  whose  duty  it  was  to  hold 
temperance  meeting  in  the  different  districts  of  the  town 
including  Ashley's,  Braley's,  Mason's  and  the  Furnace 
districts.  These  meetings  were  continued  during  the 
winter  of  isil  and  perhaps  later.  In  1841  a  special  com- 
mittee reported  that  there  were  at  least  six  grog  shops  in 
the  town.  Three  of  the  offenders  who  were  located  in  the 
eastern  part  of  the  town  were  prosecuted  by  a  committee 
appointed  by  the  society  for  that  purpose.  Two  convic- 
tions were  obtained.  The  other  offenders  promised  to 
stop  selling  liquor  if  not  prosecuted  for  their  past  misdeeds. 

In  the  winter  of  184U  a  Youths'  Temperance  Society 
was  formed  at  Assonet  with  L(^renzo  D.  Lawton,  President, 
and  Simeon  Burt,  Secretary.  This  society  was  very  active 
during  the  winter  and  spring,  holding  weekly  meetings 
which  were  largely  attended  by  both  young  and  old.  The 
two  societies  joined  in  celebrating  the  -tth  of  July,  1S41, 
which  proved  to  be  a  red-letter  day  for  the  temperance 
people  of  Assonet.  Nathaniel  Collier  of  Boston,  a  re- 
formed inebriate,  was  the  principal  speaker.  The  first 
gathering  was  held  in  the  North  church  which  was  filled 
from  floor  to  galleries.  At  the  close  of  this  meeting  the 
audience  formed  in  procession  and  marched  to  music  with 
temperance  motto  banners  flying  to  a  grove  where  more 
than  three  hundred  persons  partook  of  a  bountiful  collation 
provided  by  the  ladies  of  the  village.  Henry  L.  Deane,  a 
distinguished  vocalist  of  Taunton,  also  took  part  in  the 
exercises  of  the  day. 

Among  the  active  members  of  the  Assonet  Temper- 
ance Society  other  than  those  already  named  may  be  men- 
tioned:  Thomas  Andros,  Jr.,  Augustus  C.  Barrows,  John 
Burbank,  Benjamin  Burt,  Ben]amin  Crane,  Jr.,  William 
Carpenter,  Allen  Chace,  Joseph  Durfee,  Jr.,  Elkanah  Dog- 
gett,  Alden  Hathaway,  Jr.,  Guilford  H.  Hathaway,  Am- 
brose W.  Hathaway,  John  T.  Lawton,  John  Nichols,  Cur- 
tis C.  Nichols,  Thomas  G.  Nichols,    Peter  Nichols,  James 

240 


Phillips,  Sylvaniis  vS.  Payne,  John  B.  Pariss,  vStetson  Ray- 
mond, E.  W.  Robinson,  James  Taylor  and  Ephraim 
Winslow. 

The  East  Freetown  Washingtonian  Temperanee  Soci- 
ety was  organized  at  a  meeting  held  at  the  Mason  ]\Ieet- 
ing  House,  April  5,  184H.  The  following  officers  were 
elected:  Charles  Bierstadt,  President ;  Tracey  Allen,  Vice 
President  and  Reuel  Washburn,  vSecretary  and  Treasurer. 
The  first  work  engaged  in  by  this  society  was  the  prosecu- 
tion of  one  of  the  parties  that  had  previously  been  pros- 
ecuted for  rum  selling  by  a  committee  of  the  Assonet 
Temperance  Society.  He  was  finally  forced  out  of  the 
neighborhood.  Pledge  breakers  and  politics  gave  this 
society  some  trouble  and  by  the  records  it  seems  to  have 
expired  December  ti,  IS+T  on  account  of  a  lack  of  interest 
among  its  members.  The  following  named  members  of 
this  society  are  mentioned  in  its  records:  Tracey  Allen, 
James  Ashley,  Charles  Bierstadt,  Horatio  A.  Braley,  Fisher 
A.  Cleveland,  B.  Cushman,  Abisha  H.  Chace,  Sylvanus 
Cole,  John  Duftie,  Samuel  F.  Greene,  Arad  T.  Leach, 
Andrew  J.  Morton,  William  A.  Morton.  Hezekiah  Mason, 
Marcus  M.  Rounseville,  John  Spare,  Cxcorge  L.  Smith, 
John  Townsend,  Benjamin  G.  White,  Reuel  Washburn 
and  Thomas  Whitcomb. 

The  Assonet  Division,  No.  184,  Sons  of  Temperance, 
was  organized  at  Assonet  Village  May  24,  18<>0,  with 
George  D.  Williams  as  Worthy  Patriarch  and  Don  C.  H. 
Hathaway  as  Recording  Scribe.  This  society  had  a  mem- 
bership of  about  forty  and  was  in  excellent  condition  at 
the  time  of  the  breaking  out  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion. 
Its  meetings  were  often  enlivened  by  visitors  from  divisions 
located  in  neighboring  towns.  Sixteen  of  its  members 
enlisted  in  the  army.  This  society  also  had  its  troubles 
with  delinquents.  It  surrendered  its  charter  January  10, 
1864. 

vStar  Lodge  No.  77,  Independent  Order  of  Good  Temp- 
lars was  instituted  at  Assonet  Village  vSeptemper  11,  18()8, 

241 


with,  fifteen  members.  Thomas  G.  Nichols  was  the  first 
Chief  Templar,  Hattie  L.  Briggs,  Vice  Templar  and  S.  R. 
Briggs,  Secretary.  This  lodge  was  removed  to  East  Free- 
town about  the  year  1877,  where  its  membership  in- 
creased to  ninety-five.  It  surrendered  its  charter  May  10, 
1880.  Reuel  Washburn  was  the  last  Chief  Templar, 
Emma  Keen,  Vice  Templar  and  Genie   Braley,   Secretary. 

Pearl  Division,  No.  93,  Sons  of  Temperance  was  or- 
ganized at  East  Freetown  July  5,  188!:»,  with  William  A. 
Gurney,  Worthy  Patriarch  and  Granville  S.  Allen,  Re- 
cording Scribe.  Its  charter  was  surrendered  in  November, 
189^2. 

Bethel  Division,  No.  110,  Sons  of  Temperance  was 
organized  at  x\ssonet  Village,  February  8,  1891:  with  Rev. 
A.  L.  Bean  Worthy  Patriarch  and  Isabel  R.  Burrell,  Re- 
cording vScribe.  There  were  about  forty  signatures  to  the 
charter  list,  and  at  one  time  the  society  had  about  seventy- 
five  members.  This  division  surrendered  its  charter  in 
December,  1897. 

Each  of  these  temperance  societies  contributed  its 
share  of  good  to  the  cause  which  it  espoused.  If  they  did 
not  entirely  stop  the  use  of  intoxicants  as  a  beverage  in  the 
town,  if  they  did  not  redeem  every  drunkard  that  lived 
within  their  jurisdiction,  they  surely  helped  to  restrict 
such  use  of  the  former,  and  saved  some  of  the  latter  from 
a  drunkard's  grave. 

The  temperance  sentiment  of  the  town  today  is  far  in 
advance  of  that  of  fifty  years  ago.  Then  drunken  men 
were  almost  daily  seen  upon  the  streets,  often  disturbing 
the  peace  and  quiet  of  the  commonwealth  by  their  loud 
and  profane  language,  some  of  them  at  times  endangering 
the  life  and  limbs  of  our  citizens  by  their  cruel  and  reck- 
less driving  in  our  streets.  These  disturbances  were  some- 
times intensified  and  prolonged  by  young  men,  who  for 
sport  harassed  these  unfortunate  men  in  various  ways, 
goading  them  at  times   almost  to  desperation.      Such   con- 

342 


duct  on  the  part  of  either  party  would  not  be  tolerated 
today.  Let  us  be  thankful  for  this  great  improvement  in 
our  citizenship  and  rejoice  that  the  school  children  of  the 
present  day  are  not  obliged  to  be  witnesses  of  such  drunk- 
en depravity  in  public  places.  Decidedly  the  world  is 
ofrowingf  better.      Decidedlv  Freetown  is  better. 

(lENERAL    NOTES. 

The  present  Christian  Church  at  Assonet  was  built  in 
18-33.  It  originally  had  two  front  doors,  each  reached  by 
a  short  flight  of  steps.  There  was  a  large  window  be- 
tween them.  A  swell  front  pulpit  was  located  between 
the  two  inner  doors  at  the  east  end  of  the  audience  room, 
the  pews  faced  it.  to  the  east.  The  windows  of  ordinary 
sash  and  glass  were  of  the  full  height  and  width  of  the 
present  window  frames,  were  furnished  with  outside 
blinds,  and  each  including  the  large  window  in  front  had 
a  fan  shaped  blind  over  its  top.  The  blinds  were  painted 
green.  The  south  side  of  the  basement  was  left  open  and 
was  used  for  storing  wagons,  farming  implements,  &c. 
until  1842,  when  it  was  closed  in  and  fitted  as  a  vestrv.  the 
only  entrance  being  by  a  door  on  the  south  side.  The 
speaker's  desk  was  on  the  south  side  of  the  room.  The 
floor  was  built  on  an  incline.  It  had  stationary  board  seats 
facing  the  desk.  The  political  meetings  of  the  earlier  po- 
litical campaigns  were  usually  held  in  this  vestry.  In 
lNt'>7  the  floor  of  the  audience  room  was  raised  several 
inches,  the  pews  turned,  and  the  pulpit  removed  to  the 
west  end.  The  windows  were  altered  to  their  present  form, 
a  front  door  was  made  in  the  center,  nearly  level  with 
the  ground,  and  substituted  for  the  two  originally  built, 
and  an  inside  entrance  cut  from  the  vestibule  into  the 
vestry.  Later  the  original  pulpit  was  removed,  a  plat- 
form built  across  the  west  end  of  the  auditorium  and  a 
portable  pulpit  substituted.  In  isTT)  the  vestrv  was  re- 
fitted, the  floor  being  made  level,  the  desk   placed    on    the 

243 


wCvSt  side  of  the  room,  settees  substituted   for  the  station- 
ary seats,  and  the  outside  entrance  closed. 


Furnace  heat  was  substituted  for  that  of  stoves  about 
1800.  The  bell  which  weighs  600  pounds  was  presented 
to  the  society  by  Dr.  Edmund  V.  Hathaway  of  San  Fran- 
cisco, California,  a  native  of  Assonet,  in  1863.  The  hole 
that  was  burned  through  the  roof  of  the  church  by  the  fire 
of  1886,  and  which  caused  considerable  damage  to  the 
ceiling,  was  over  the  rafter  that  replaced  the  one  broken 
by  the  fall  of  the  steeple  in  the  gale  of  1868.  At  that  time 
pieces  of  the  steeple  penetrated  the  ceiling  and  fell  to  the 
floor  of  the  audience  room,  the  main  portion  of  the  steeple 
however  rolled  off  the  roof  and  fell  to  the  ground. 

The  society  was  not  incorporated  until  1868. 


The  Reverend  John  Bukisaxk   was  the  son  of  Isaac 
and  Mary    Tisdale    Burbank.      All    his    life    long  he   was 

identified  with  the 
Christian  Church  in 
Assonet,  which  he 
joined  during  one  of 
the  revivals  of  re- 
ligion that  took  place 
in  the  early  ministry 
of  Elder  James  Tay- 
lor. He  soon  after 
decided  to  become  a 
minister,  but  unfort- 
unately his  health  had 
never  been  robust, 
and  he  found  himself 
unable  to  follow  any 
regular  course  of 
study.  Finally  or- 
dained as  a  Christian 
minister,  he  preached 


f 

1 

^^^^^^^^H 

^^^^^^ 

1 

m 

^^K^^^^ 

Y 

5 

fl 

* 

JM 

REV.  JOHN    BURBANK 


244 


occasionally  throughout  his  life,  supplying  the  pulpit  from 
time  to  time  in  Assonet,  East  Freetown  and  Smith  Mills ; 
ill-health,  however,  always  prevented  him  from  accepting 
a  pastorate.  He  was  a  zealous  advocate  of  justice  and 
morality,  and  warmly  upheld  the  cause  of  temperance  and 
that  of  anti-slavery.  He  was  noble-minded  and  sincere, 
genial  in  conversation,  often  eloquent  and  impressive  in 
the  pulpit,  a  man  who  won  general  respect  through  his 
faithfulness  to  high  ideals.  He  died  in  1SS8  at  the  age  of 
eighty-one  years,  and  lies  buried  in  the  grave-yard  op- 
posite the  Christian  Church. 


The  Congregational  Church  at  Assonet  was  built  in 
1808-i>.  Ebenezer  Pierce  of  jNIiddleboro,  now  Lakeville, 
was  the  master  builder.  A  portion  of  the  timber  and 
boards  were  brought  from  Maine  m  the  Sloop  Unicorn, 
Ebenezer  Pierce  of  Assonet,  owner,  James  L.  Valentine, 
master,  and  George  C.  Briggs,  John  Brown  and  Jack  Shep- 
ard,  crew.  Benjamin  Dean,  Sr.,  carted  the  lumber  from 
the  wharf  at  Assonet  to  the  building  site.  Circular  seats 
with  circular  book  racks  in  front  of  them  were  constructed 
for  the  choir  at  the  east  end  of  the  gallery.  Pews  built 
crosswise  of  the  gallery  and  modelled  like  those  in  the 
body  of  the  house,  with  seats  on  each  side,  were  construct- 
ed on  the  north  and  south  sides  of  the  gallery.  A  pew  of 
the  same  model  was  also  made  over  the  top  of  each  (^f  the 
two  stairways  that  lead  from  the  vestibule  to  the  gallery. 
These  two  pews  were  called  the  slave  pews.  They  were 
removed  when  the  gallery  was  remodelled  in  isdT.  There 
was  once  a  sounding  board  in  the  church.  The  original 
pulpit  made  on  a  raised  platform,  had  a  paneled  front.  It 
was  removed  when  the  alterations  to  the  church  were 
made  in  18(>7.  The  clock  in  the  steeple  of  the  church  was 
placed  there  in  1882.  It  was  purchased  from  Amherst 
College,  the  money  being  raised  by  subscription.    The  Rev. 

George  F.Walker  who  was  mainly  instrumental  in  securing 

24.J 


the  clock,  set  it  up, —  making  the  three  dials  himself 
and  cared  for  it  during  his  pastorate. 


"The  records  of  the  Congregational  Church  of  Christ 
gathered  in  Freetown,  in  the  County  of  Bristol,  and 
Province  of  the  Massachusetts-Bay  in  New  England, 
September  ye  30th  A.  D.  1747,"  is  the  way  it  is  written  on 
the  title  page  of  the  record  book  kept  by  the  Rev.  Silas 
Brett.  Before  the  Province  of  Massachusetts  Bay  was 
divided  into  counties  in  1(UP>,  it  had  such  divisions,  but 
they  were  designated  regiments,  which  at  and  before  that 
date  denoted  an  equal  number  of  general  and  territorial 
divisions  in  the  colony. 


Freetown    was    the    fifth    town    organized    in    Bristol 
Countv. 


The  bounds   between   Freetown    and    Tiverton    were 
established  June  17,  17<»0. 


The  easterly  line  of  the  Freemen's  purchase  was  the 
line  that  divided  old  Freetown  on  the  east  from  Tiverton 
previous  to  174-7,  when  that  part  of  Tiverton  was  annexed 
to  Freetown  and  has  since  been  known  as  New  or  East 
Freetown. 


The  three  telegraph  offices  in  the  town  are  at  the  As- 
sonet,  Braleys  and  East  Freetown  railroad  stations.  The 
telephone  pay  station  at  Assonet  is  located  in  the  public 
library  building.  East  Freetown  has  private  telephones 
but  none  for  public  use.  The  express  offices  are  at  the 
four   raih^oad   stations. 


The  enrolment  of  Freetown  in  1S()3  was  2()5.  When 
recruiting  for  the  war  of  the  rebellion  was  stopped  Free- 
town had  filled  her  quota  and  had  a  surplus  of  four  men  to 
her  credit.      Twenty  of  her  citizens  were  commissioned  in 

246 


the  army  or  navy,  ten  of  them  serving  in  two  or  more  or- 
o-anizations.  Eiirht  of  them  first  served  as  enlisted  men. 
In  rank  there  was  one  brigadier-general,  one  colonel,  one 
major,  five  captains  and  seven  lieutenants  in  the  army  and 
two  chief  engineers  with  the  rank  of  captain,  one  ensign 
and  two  acting  ensigns  in  the  navv. 


Captain  Levi  Rounseville  who  marched  from  Free- 
town with  his  company  of  minute  inen  i\pril  1!>,  1775,  was 
the  father  of  the  Rev.  William  Rounseville  who  repre- 
sented the  town  of  Freetown  for  ten  successive  years  in 
the  General  Court  at  Boston,  and  great-grandfather  of  the 
Rev.  William  R.  Alger,  a  noted  author  and  divine.  Lieu- 
tenant Nathaniel  Morton  of  the  same  company  was  grand- 
father of  Hon.  Marcus  Morton,  formerly  Governor  of 
Massachusetts ;  and  Private  Peter  Crapo  was  grandfather 
of  Colonel  Henry  H.  Crapo,  formerly  (Tovernor  of  ]Mich- 
io-an. 


Hon.  ]\Iarcus  Morton  was  Collector  of  Customs  at  the 
port  of  Boston  for  four  years.  Hercules  Cushman  was 
Collector  of  Customs  for  the  district  of  Dighton  LS^3-25. 
James  M.  Morton  was  postmaster  at  Fall  River  1853-57. 
Nicholas  Hathaway  was  postmaster  at  Fall  River  1885-89. 


The  barn  built  by  Benjamin  Dean,  Sr.  and  later  owned 
by  John  Dean,  that  stood  on  Water  street  until  18<)5,  was 
for  many  years  the  abattoir  for  Assonet  and  its  vicinity 
with  Thomas  W.  Pierce  in  charge.  It  also  served  well  as 
a  meeting  place  for  more  than  half  a  hundred  boys  that 
were  born  on  that  street. 


Of  the  three  wharves,  commonly  called  the  lower 
wharves  the  middle  one  was  built  by  Ebenezer  Pierce  and 
by  him  sold  to  Elder  Philip  Hathaway.  Its  location  was 
known  as  the  coal  landing. 

247 


Geor(;e  W.    Pickkns,  son  of  George  and  Ruth  (Read) 
Pickens  was  born  at  Assonet,  Alarch   17,  182(1.      He  chose 

the  life  of  a  mariner 
which  occupation  he 
followed  until  a  short 
time  before  his  death 
At  first  engaged  in 
the  coastwise  trade 
he  later  became  mas- 
ter of  a  vessel  in  the 
foreign  trade.  The 
last  thirty  years  of  his 
sea-faring  life  he 
spent  as  an  officer  on 
the  Fall  River  Line 
of  steamboats  to  New 
York.  He  was  strict- 
ly upright  and  honor- 
able in  all  his  dealings 
with  his  fellow  men. 
GEORGE  w   PICKENS  He    nevcr    failed    to 

express  his  opinion  of  such  shams  and  frauds  as  came  to 
his  notice,  in  his  own  inimitable  way.  His  flow  of  lan- 
guage was  rapid  and  his  word  painting  unique.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  Church  at  Assonet.  He 
married  Elizabeth  C,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Dean.  Their 
children  were  John  Wilson,  born  June  1»,  ls4-t),  Isidore 
Frances,  born  February  I'J,  1848,  Clara  Washington,  born 
September  10,  1851,  Benjamin  Dean,  born  July  15,  iSi'tU, 
Benjamin  Dean,  born  November  1,  i860  and  Elizabeth 
Allen,  born  January  0,  180?).  The  last  three  died  when 
young.      He  died  February  21:,  l8yi>. 


248 


An  Account 


1  l)e  Old   HoD)e   r  e^bival, 


FREETOWN,  MASS, 
1902. 


Old  Home  Festival. 


THE  first  suggestion  of  the  Old  Home  Festival  for  Free- 
town —  an  occasion  memorable  in  the  annals  of  the 
town  —  was  made  in  a  meeting  of  the  Assonet  Village  Im- 
provement Society,  and  warmly  approved.  Pursuant  to 
instructions  from  the  vSociety,  a  Circular  was  sent  out  into 
all  parts  of  the  town,  calling  a  meeting  of  citizens  to  be 
held  at  the  Town  Hall,  Monday  evening,  March  3d,  1903, 
at  which  "the  sentiment  of  our  people,  whether  favorable 
or  unfavorable,  might  be  distinctly  ascertained,  and  that 
our  invitation,  if  one  is  to  be  sent  forth,  may  represent  a 
cordial  welcome  from  the  whole  community."  It  was 
added  that : 

"The  old  town  has  abundant  reason  to  be  proud  of 
her  citizens,  adorning  stations  of  eminent  usefulness  in  the 
neighboring  cities  and  the  State  and  Nation ;  as  they  in 
their  turn  may  well  delight  in  the  fair  village  and  the 
pleasant  homesteads  from  which  they  sprang.  If  it  shall 
be  decided  that  our  community  shall  send  out  the  invita- 
tions that  are  to  call  'her  sons  from  far  and  her  daughters 
from  the  ends  of  the  earth,'  the  result  cannot  but  be  de- 
lightful and  memorable." 

The  meeting  thus  called  was  large,  unanimous  and 
enthusiastic,  and  resulted  in  the  organization  of  The 
Festival  Association  with  the  following  officers  : 

President  : 
Major  John  M.  Deane,  of  Freetown  and  Fall  River. 

Vice-Presidents: 
His  Honor,  George  Grime,  Mayor  of  Fall  River. 
Charles  A.  Morton,  Esq.,  East  Freetown. 
Judge  James  M.  Morton,  Fall  River, 
Judge  Henry  K.  Braley,  Fall  River. 
Andrew  J.  Jennings,  Esq.,  Fall  River. 
Elbridge  G.  Paul,  Esq.,  Fair  Haven. 
250 


Corresponding  Secretary — Rev.  Leonard  W.  Bacon,  Assonet. 
Recording  Secretary — Mrs.  Edward  H.  Kidder,  Assonet. 
Treasurer — N.  W.  Davis,  Assonet. 

Chairmen  of  Committees: 

On  Program,  Music  and  Speakers — Rev.  P.  A.  Canada. 

On  Invitation,  Reception  and  Hospitality — Rev.  Leonard 
W.  Bacon. 

On  History — Dr.  C.  A  Briggs. 

On  Decoration — B.  F.  Aiken. 

On  Banquet — Ralph  H.  Francis. 

On  Transportation — Gilbert  M.  Nichols. 

On  Ways  and  Means — -N.  W.  Davis. 

The  Officers  with  the  Chairmen  of  Committees,  together 
constituted  the  General  Executive  Committee. 

COiMMITTEE    ON    LwiTATION,     RECEPTION 

AND  Hospitality: 
Rev.  Leonard  W.  Bacon,  Mrs.  Earl  F.  Pearce, 

Col.  Silas  P.  Richmond,  Handel  E.  Washburn, 

Geo.  B.  Cudworth,  Mrs.  Edward  H.  Kidder, 

Miss  C.  C.  Nichols,  Milton  L  Deane, 

Miss  Lucy  Evans,  Richard  B.  Deane. 

Committee  on   Program,    Music 
and  Speakers: 

Rev.  P.  A.  Canada,  Rev.  L.  W.  Bacon, 

John  j\L  Deane. 

On   History: 
Dr.  Charles  A.  Briggs,  John  H.  Evans, 

Palo  Alto  Peirce,  Mrs.  Helen  M.  Irons, 

Charles  A.  Morton,  Mrs.  Paul  M.  Burns. 

On  Decorations: 
B.  F.  Aiken,  Miss  S.  B.  Porter, 

Palo  Alto  Peirce,  Mrs.  L.  W.  Bacon, 

Earl  F.  Pearce,  Miss  L    M.  Hathaway. 

Ont   Banquet: 
Ralph  H.  Francis,  Mrs.  Albert  H.  Thurston, 

Mrs.  C.  A.  Briggs,  Dr.  C.  A.  Briggs, 

Mrs.  N.  \V.  Davis,  N.  W.  Davis. 

251 


On  Transportation: 

Gilbert  M.  Nichols,  Joseph  S.  Taylor, 

Francis  E.  Baker,  Harold  G.  Irons, 

Andrew  M.  Hathaway. 

On  Ways  and  Means: 

N.  W.  Davis,  Earl  F.  Pearce, 

J.  M.  Deane,  Harris  E.  Chace, 

J.  D.  Hathaway,  G.  M.  Nichols, 

N.  R.  Davis,  Dr.  C.  A.  Briggs. 

On   Fireworks: 
Milton  I.  Deane,  Charles  L.  Deane. 

On   Recording  Visitors: 
Mrs.  Charles  W.  Payne,  Miss  Georgia  B.  Cudworth. 

The  following  ladies  were  volunteers  in  collecting  and  ar- 
ranging a  most  successful  antiquarium  : 

Miss  Caroline  M.  Evans,  Miss  Mercy  M.  Hatheway, 

Mrs.  N.  W.  Davis,  Miss  Helen  G.  Pickens, 

Mrs.  Octavia  Pickens,  Mrs.  David  Terry,  Jr., 

Mrs.  John  M.  Deane. 

Chorus: 

Director — Rev.  L,  W.  Bacon. 

Organists— Mr.  Alton  B.  Paull,  Miss  Mabel  G.  Bacon. 

Violinist — Miss  Florence  F.  Purrington. 

Pianist— Miss  Louise  Carnoe. 

Sopranos — Miss  Elizabeth  R.  Bacon,  Mrs.  Charles  W.  Payne, 
Miss  Helen  H.  Irons,  Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Balcom,  Miss  Lucy  Walker, 
Mrs.  Frank  McCreery,  Miss  Georgia  B.  Cudworth,  Miss  Flor- 
ence B.  Evans  and  Mrs.  E.  H.  Kidder. 

Altos — Mrs.  Ralph  H.  Francis,  Miss  Sarah  B.  Porter,  Mrs. 
P.  A.  Canada,  Mrs.  Frank  W.  Dean  and  Miss  S.  E.  Rose. 

Tenors — Earl  F.  Pearce,  Charles  W.  Payne,  Gilbert  M. 
Nichols,  Eugene  E.  Ray  and  Arthur  E.  Newhall. 

Basses — Ralph  H.  Francis,  Joseph  S.  Taylor,  Abram  T. 
Haskell  and  Alfred  M.  Davis. 

252 


It  is  no  more  than  justice  to  the  Committees  named, 
to  say  that  from  that  time  forward  they  devoted  them- 
selves with  persistent  energy,  often  to  the  sacrifice  of  per- 
sonal convenience  and  interest,  to  securing  the  success  of 
their  patriotic  enterprise. 

Under  date  of  x\pril  7th,  a  Preliminary  Announce- 
ment was  sent  out  by  the  General  Executive  Cominittee, 
giving  a  rough  sketch  of  the  Festival  plans,  and  inviting 
suggestions  from  all  quarters.  Among  the  items  of  this 
Announcement  was  the  following  foreshadowing  of  the 
present  publication  : 

The  hours  of  a  single  day  are  not  enough  to  include 
an  ample  Historical  Discourse,  treating  in  full  of  the  pe- 
culiarly interesting  annals  of  the  town.  Accordingly  our 
Historical  Committee  are  preparing  for  the  press  an  Illus- 
trated History  of  Freetown — its  events  and  conflicts,  its 
notable  citizens  and  families,  its  industries  and  schools  and 
churches.  vSuch  a  volume  cherished  in  the  old  homesteads 
of  the  town,  and  taken  to  their  widely  scattered  homes  by 
our  returning  guests,  will  be  valued  as  a  souvenir  of  the 
Old  Home  and  of  the  uresent  celebration. 


Among  the  preparations  that  deserve  to  be  commem- 
orated are  the  organization  and  training  of  The  Festival 
Ch<)rus,  of  about  thirty  voices,  all  of  them  volunteers 
from  the  two  choirs  of  Assonet.  The  Chorus  was  en- 
couraged by  the  generous  assistance  of  the  accomplished 
quartet  of  the  First  Church  in  Fall  River,  directed  by 
Gilbert  H.  Belcher,  Esq.,  to  give  a  Concert  at  the  Old 
North  Church  on  the  18th  of  June,  the  proceeds  of  which 
were  devoted  to  the  expenses  of  the  Old  Home  Festival. 
The  program  of  this  concert,  in  which  the  Chorus  had 
the  further  assistance  of  Mr.  Hawkins  of  Fall  River, 
'cellist,  and  of  JNIiss  Purrington  of  Mattapoisett,  violinist, 
is  entitled  to  a  place  here  as  part  of  the  res  ocstiC  of  the 
Old  Home  Festival. 

253 


CONCERT 


OF  SACRED  AND    SECULAR   MUSIC 


TLe  Jl55onet  Fe5live.I  CIioru5» 


WITH    THE    (JENEROUS    ASSISTANCE    OF    THE 


FIRST  CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH  CHOIR, 


MRS.  J.  H.   FRANKLIN,  MISS  F.  H.   LEARNED, 

Soprano.  Contralto. 

MR.  ELLIS  L.  ROWLAND,  MR.   R.  M.  HAWKINS, 

Tenor.  Basso. 

MR.  GILBERT  H.   BELCHER, 
Organist  and  Director. 

MISS  F.  F.  PURRINGTON,  MR.  C.  S.  HAWKINS, 

Violinist,  'Cellist. 

AT    TIIK 

OLD  NORTH  CHURCH,  ASSONET, 

Friday  Evening,  June  1  otli,  1 902, 

AT   HALF-PAST  SEVEN   (7.30)  O'CLOCK. 


FOR    SALE    AT    THE    STORES, 


The  proceeds  of  the  Concert  are  for  the  benefit  of  the 
"  Old  Home  Festival"  Fund. 


If^g*"  Particular  attention  is  requested  to  the  early  hour  required  for  the  conven- 
ience of  our  friends  from  out  of  town. 

354 


PART   I. 

Chorus — "Hail  to  Thee  Liberty,"  (from  Semiramide)     Rossini 

Hail  to  thee,  Liberty !  hail  to  thee,  Freedom, 

On  this  great  day. 
Let  sounds  of  melody,  let  notes  of  pleasure, 
Resound  triumphantly  this  festal  day. 
Rejoice  in  freedom  this  sacred  day. 

Yeoman  from  valley,  hunter  from  mountain, 
Crowd  from  gay  capital,  hermit  from  fountain; 
Arouse  thee,  great  nation,  this  happy  day. 
Sacred  to  freedom,  this  holy  day. 

QuARTETTF.^"My  Faith  looks  up  to  Thee,"         .  ScJinecker 

With  Violin  Obligato. 

Glee — "Swiftly  from  the  Mountain's  Brow,"  .         SAVcbbe 

Swiftly  from  the  mountain's  brow 

Shadows  nursed  by  night's  retire, 
And  the  peeping  sunbeams  now 

Paint  with  gold  the  village  spire. 

Sweet,  oh  sweet  the  warbling  throng 
On  the  white  emblossomed  spray ! 

Nature's  universal  song 
Echoes  to  the  rising  day. 

Quartette — "Stars  of  the  Summer  Night,"  .  Hatton 

Contralto  Solo — "Springtide,"  .  .  .         Berzvick 

With  'cello  Obligato. 


The  Tramp  Chorus, 


Si?'  Henry  R.  Bishop 


Chorus — Now  tramp,  now  tramp,  o'er  moss  and  fell 
The  battered  ground  returns  the  sound, 
'While  breathing  chanters  proudly  swell: 
Clan  Alpine's  cry  is  "'Win  or  die!" 

Solo — Guardian  spirits  of  the  brave, 
"Victory  o'er  my  hero  wave. 

Duett — "Tarry  with  me," 

Soprano  and  Tenor. 


Nicolli 


PART   II. 

The  Soldier's  Chorus,  (from  Faust)  .  .  Gounod 

Glory  and  love  to  the  men  of  old ! 
Their  sons  may  copy  their  virtues  bold — 
Courage  in  heart  and  a  sword  in  hand, 
Ready  to  irght  or  ready  to  die  for  fatherland ! 
Who  needs  bidding  to  dare  by  a  trumpet  blown? 
Who  lacks  pity  to  spare,  when  the  field  is  won? 
Who  would  fly  from  a  foe,  if  alone  or  last, 
And  boast  he  was  true,  as  cowards  might  do, 

When  peril  is  past? 

Now  home  again  we  come, 
The  long  and  fiery  strife  of  battle  over. 

Rest  is  pleasant  after  toil 
As  hard  as  ours  beneath  a  stranger  sun. 
Many  a  maiden  fair  is  waiting  here 
To  greet  her  truant  lover ; 

And  many  a  heart  will  fail  and  brow  grow  pale. 
To  hear  the  tale  of  cruel  peril  he  has  run. 

We  are  at  home  ! 

"For  All  Eternity"  .  .  .  MascJuroni 

Tenor  Solo  and  Obligato. 

Violin   Solo — vSelected  .... 


Quartette — "The  Day  is  Ended," 

With  Obligato. 


/.  C.  Bartlctt 


Glee — "Hark,  Apollo  strikes  the  Lyre,"     Sir  Henry  R.  Bishop 

Hark,  Apollo  strikes  the  lyre, 
And  loudly  sounds  the  golden  wire. 
To  bid  of  heaven  the  tuneful  choir 
Their  art  divine  employ. 

Whose  song  harmonious  shall  rebound 
In  echoes  from  the  vast  profound, 
And  earth  shall  catch  the  charming  sound 
With  wide  diffusing  joy. 

To  "The  Order  of  the  Day"  as  placed  in  the  hands  of 
the  (^tiests  of  the  town  on  Wednesday,  July  o<),  r.M)2,  em- 
bellished with  a  photogravure  of  "The  Profile  on  Joshua's 
Mountain,"  were  prefixed  the  following: 

25(> 


GENERAL  NOTICES. 

RENDEZVOUS  for  Visitors  at  the  Village  School-House. 

A  Committee   of  Reception  will  be  in  attendance    during 

the  day. 
A    Register   will   be  provided  for   Recording  Names  and 

Addresses. 
Subscriptions  will  be  received  for  the  Memorial  Volume. 

BAND  CONCERTS  by  the  Swansea  Brass  Band  at  10.00,  12.30 

and  4.00. 
EXERCISES  IN  THE  CHURCH  at  10.30,  2  30  and  7.30.  "■ 
BANQUET  at  1.00. 
FIREWORKS  at  8.30. 

ANTIQUARIUM  at  the  Vestry  of  the  South  Church,  Tuesday 
evening,  Wednesday  and  Thursday.      Admission  Ten  Cents. 

The  Program  of  Exercises  for  the  three  parts  of  the 
day  was  this : 

FORENOON. 


Reception  and  Responses. 

At  half  past  ten,  at  the  Church. 


FESTIVAL  OVERTURE  on  the  Organ,  by  Mr.  AltoxN  B. 
Paull,  a  Grandson  of  Freetown.      Processional  in  D, 

Gnilmant 

INVOCATION  AND  THANKSGIVING,  in  which  the  devo- 
tions of  the  assembly  will  be  lead  by  the  Rev.  Benjamin 
S.  Batchelor,  for  seventeen  years  a  Minister  of  the  Gospel 
in  the  Town. 

ADDRESS  OF  WELCOME  in  behalf  of  the  Residents  of  the 
Town,  by  Major  John   M.   Deane,  President  of  the  Day. 

RESPONSE  in  behalf  of  the  Daughter  Cit}-,  by  His  Honor, 
George  Grime,   Mayor  of  Fall  River. 

CHORUS,  "Swiftly  from  the  Mountain'  Brow,"  ^'.    Wcbbe 

Sung   v,\  the  Assonet   Festival  Chorus. 


LETTERS  AND  vSPEECHES  from  sons  and  grandsons  of  the 

old  town,  and  other  visitors  and  guests. 
THE  SOLDIERS'  CHORUS  from  "Faust,"  Gounod 

ORGAN  VOLUNTARY.      Marche  Militaire,  Gounod 

Mr.   Paull. 

AFTERNOON. 


Banquet. 

In  the  Town  Hall,  at  one  o'clock,  during   which  there  will  be 
music  in  the  open  air,  by  the  Swansea  Brass  Band. 

The  After  Dinner  Speaking 

At  the  Church,  at  2.30. 
Admittance  to  the  church  is  reserved  until  2.20  exclusively 
for  holders  of  tickets  to  the  Banquet. 

ORGAN  VOLUNTARY,  Offertoire  in  A,  Batiite 

Mr.   Paull. 
ORATION  by  Mr.  Curtis  Guild,  Jr.,  of  Boston. 
CHORUS,  "Hail  to  thee.  Liberty,"  from  "Semiramide,"  Rossini 

Sung  by  the  Assonet  Festival  Chorus. 
DUO:  Violin  and  Organ.  Largo,  Handel 

Miss  Florence  F.  Purrington  and  Miss  Mabel  G.  Bacon. 
POEM,  "The  Old  Home  — a  Freetown  Ballad," 

By  Miss  M.  E.  N.  Hathaway. 
SONG,  "Home,  Sweet  Home,"  Bishop 

Miss  Elizabeth   R.   Bacon. 
ODE  for  the  Old  Home  Festival,  by  Herbert  E.  Hathaway. 
Air — Die    IVacht  am  Rhein. 
How  shall  we  best  the  work  complete 

Begun  of  old  by  them  that  sleep; 
Who  bore  the  burden  and  the  heat 

And  planted  that  their  sons  might  reap; 
Who  wrought  with  faith  and  strength  and  zeal, 

Nor  life  nor  fortune  did  withhold. 
To  found  secure  the  Commonweal 
For  us,  in  peace,  to  have  and  hold  ? 

Toil  did  not  daunt  nor  hardship  stay ; 

They  drew  not  back,  though  dear  the  cost, 
Looked  forward  to  a  better  day, 

And  lost  not  hope,  whate'er  they  lost. 
While  steadfast  to  the  truth  they  saw, 

In  duty's  narrow  path  they  trod. 
The  Word  of  God  their  highest  law, 

Their  only  fear,  the  fear  of  God. 
258 


In  conscious  right  they  dared  withstand, 

The  weight  of  England's  armaments, 
When  Liberty,  throughout  the  land. 

Aroused  her  sons  to  her  defense. 
They  knew  defeat  and  sharp  distress, 

Yet  persevered  until  the  hour 
That  brought  at  last  well-won  success, 

And  gave  the  world  a  freeborn  power. 

When  discord  kindled  into  strife. 

And  kinsmen's  hands  prepared  the  blow, 
The  Union,  hard  beset  for  life, 

Called  to  her  aid  the  men  we  know. 
They  answered — not  with  idle  breath — 

They  died  for  her  on  land  and  sea, 
Preserved  her  from  a  living  death. 

And  kept  her  one,  united,  free. 

O  honored  fathers  of  the  town. 

Who  joyed  and  sorrowed  in  your  day, 
To  us  your  children  handing  down 

The  light  that  led  you  on  your  way — 
The  constant  will  to  do  the  right. 

The  courage  not  to  do  the  wrong. 
And  unbound  justice,  to  requite 

With  equal  hand  the  weak  and  strong — 

The  heritage  that  we  partake 

Was  won  by  you  with  toil  and  pain; 
Sons  of  your  sons,  shall  we  forsake 

Your  ways,  and  make  your  labor  vain? 
Be  ours  the  task,  with  wider  view 

The  ancient  promise  to  fulfill ; 
With  richer  gifts  to  build  anew. 

And  leave  your  fame  unsullied  still. 

RECESSIONAL,  Romance  in  D,  Lcmare 

Mr.   Paull. 


EVENING. 


Music 

At  the  Church,  at  half  past  seven  o'clock. 


ORGAN  VOLUNTARY, 

•  Miss  Bacon. 

GLEE,  "Hark,  Apollo  strikes  the  Lyre,"  Bishop 

Sung  bv  The   Festival  Chorus. 

SONG,  "The  Old  Oaken  Bticket," 

Mr.    Ellis  L.   Howland. 

VIOLIN  SOLO.     Adagio,  Mcrkcl 

Miss  Purrington. 

259 


SONG,  "The  Rosary,"  Nevin 

Miss  Elizabeth   R.   Bacon. 

SONG,  with  Violin  Obligate,  Bishop 

Mr.    Ellis  L.   Rowland  and  Miss  Purrington. 

THE  TRAMP  CHORUS,  BisJiop 

Now  tramp,  now  tramp,  o'er  moss  and  fell 
The  battered  ground  returns  the  sound. 

Sung  by  The  Festival  Chorus 

Soprano  Solo  by  Miss  Elizabeth   R.    Bacon, 

THE  PILGRIM  HYMN.  The  people  are  invited  to  stand  and 
join  in  singing  this  hymn  (No.  4Gti  in  the  Church  Book)  to 
the  Old  Hundredth  Psalm  Tune. 

O  God,  beneath  thy  guiding  hand 

( )ur  exiled  fathers  crossed  the  sea ; 
And  when  they  trod  the  wintry  strand. 

With  prayer  and  psalm  they  worshipt  Thee. 

Thou  heard'st  well  pleased  the  song,  the  prayer; 

Thy  blessing  came ;  and  still  its  power 
Shall  onward  through  all  ages  bear 

The  memory  of  that  holy  hour. 

Laws   freedom,  truth,  and  faith  in  God 

Came  with  those  exiles  o'er  the  waves; 
And  where  their  pilgrim  feet  have  trod. 

The  God  they  trusted  guards  their  graves. 

And  here  thy  name,  O  God  of  love, 

Their  children's  children  shall  adore. 
Till  these  eternal  hills  remove. 

And  spring  adorns  the  earth  no  more.     Amen. 

ORGAN   RECESSIONAL 

Miss   Bacon. 

Fireworks  about  8:30. 


The  weather  of  the  auspicioii.s  oOth  of  July  was  just 
what  Freetown  and  its  guests  would  have  desired.  Under 
a  sky  slightly  overcast  so  as  to  mitigate  the  summer  heat, 
from  all  quarters  and  by  all  conveyances  the  people  gath- 
ered at  the  Four  Corners,  where  all  public  buildings  and 
many  private  ones  were  gay  with  bunting.  The  intervals 
of  preliminary  business  were  enlivened  by  the  stirring 
music  of  the  Swansea  Band  ;  and  the  interest  of  the  various 

200 


parties  that  strolled  through  the  village  streets  was  quick- 
ened by  the  inscriptions  posted  at  points  of  historic  in- 
terest. 

With  military  punctuality  (such  as  marked  all  the 
proceedings  of  the  day,  to  a  degree  unusual  on  like  occa- 
sions) the  President  of  the  Day,  Major  John  M.  Deane, 
took  the  chair  at  the  appointed  hour,  and  after  a  brilliant 
organ  overture  and  a  prayer  of  Invocation  and  Thanks- 
giving, welcomed  the  guests  of  the  town   in  these   terms : 

THE  PRESIDENT'S  ADDRESS  OF  WELCOME. 


TJS  PRESIDENT  of  the  Old  Home  Festival  organization  of 
J  ±  the  ancient  town  of  Freetown,  I  extend  the  most  cordial 
greeting  of  the  town  to  all  of  you  and  through  you  to  all  the 
absent  members  of  your  families,  wherever  they  may  be  to-day, 
Freetown  makes  this  a  very  cordial  and  whole-souled   greeting 

and  hopes  that  it  will 
kindle  in  all  your  hearts 
as  warm  a. place  for  her 
as  she  cherishes  in  her 
heart  for  all  of  her  be- 
loved children,  wher- 
ever fate  has  placed 
them.  She  is  joyous  at 
your  return  today  and 
she  will  do  all  in  her 
power  to  make  your 
visit  a  memorable  one. 
Her  latch  strings  are 
out.  The  town  is  yours. 
Ransack  the  old  dom- 
icile to  your  hearts'  con- 
tent; frolic  in  the  old 
qarn,  the  crib  and  work- 
shop; wade  in  brook  and 
river,  and  romp  through 
meadow,  field  and  forest, 
as  you  did  of  yore.  She  will  respond  to  your  merry  laugh,  as 
in  the  now  seldom  visited  and  dusty  attic  you  unearth   some  of 

2(31 


PRESIDENT  JOHN    M      DEANE, 


the  treasures  of  your  childhood,  or  useful  articles  of  bygone 
days;  notably  the  old  rag  doll  that  grandmother  herself  made 
you  and  upon  which  your  auntie  painted  mouth  and  nose  and 
eyebrows,  the  home-made  rocking-horse  on  which  you  rode  to 
Banbury  Cross,  the  carts  and  sleds  that  always  ran  into  the 
gutter  or  fence  when  you  tried  to  coast,  the  warming  pan,  the 
foot-stove,  the  bellows,  the  candle-mould,  the  candle  stick  and 
snuffers,  old  lanterns  and  old  chests  with  all  their  old-time 
associations  and  tender  recollections.  Looms  and  spinning 
frames  not  made  by  the  Masons'  or  the  Drapers',  costumes  not 
tailor-made,  bonnets  not  from  a  man-milliner  of  Paris,  and  not 
the  least  of  all,  the  old  red  cradle  in  which  mother  and  grand- 
mother rocked  you  to  sleep  while  they  sang  lullabys;  and  the 
trundle-bed  in  which  you  and  brother  or  sister  had  pillow  fights 
until  frightened  into  silence  by  grandmother's  solemn  and  awful 
story  of  Elisha  and  the  two  she-bears.  Let  the  absent  ones, 
whether  children,  grand-children,  great  or  greater  grand- 
children whom  fate  keeps  from  us  today,  even  though  they  have 
journeyed  to  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth,  be  assured  that 
Freetown  takes  this  special  season  to  think  of  them  and  to  pray 
for  them.  Write  to  them ;  send  them  souvenirs  of  this  occasion ; 
say  to  them  that  our  prayer  is  that  God's  richest  blessings  may 
be  showered  upon  them,  that  health,  prosperity  and  happiness 
may  attend  them  always.  We  all  have  reason  to  be  proud  of 
our  ancestral  home.  From  it  have  gone  forth  many  eminent 
men  and  women,  eminent  in  all  the  varied  walks  of  life,  from 
the  humble  tiller  of  the  soil  to  governor  of  our  honored  com- 
monwealth ;  statesmen,  lawyers,  doctors  and  divines,  merchants, 
miners,  manufacturers  and  mechanics,  agriculturists,  inventors, 
authors  and  teachers,  captains  of  industry,  mariners  and  noted 
captains  in  the  merchant  marine  both  on  land  and  on  lake.  We 
had  hoped  to  greet  on  this  occasion  that  grandson  of  our  town 
and  village  whose  influence  in  the  world  to-day  is  second  to  that 
of  no  living  man — the  Hon.  John  Hay,  Secretary  of  State. 
(Loud  applause.)  Her  children  have  always  performed  their 
part  well,  no  less  in  war  than  in  peace.  In  all  the  wars  in 
which  our  country  has  been  involved  her  sons  and  daughters 
have  done  their  full  duty.  In  that  greatest  of  all  wars,  the 
War  of  the  Rebellion,  she  more  than  filled  her  quota.  An 
Irishman  telling  of  his  services  in  that  war  said  that  he   was  in 

262 


it  from  Alpha  to  Omega;  that  he  took  part  in  all  the  great 
battles  fought  by  the  army  of  the  Potomac;  that  he  was  always 
the  last  to  take  the  field  and  the  first  to  leave  it.  Not  so  with 
the  youth  of  Freetown.  They  were  among  the  first  to  take  the 
field  and  the  last  to  leave  it.  On  their  banner  they  can  inscribe 
at  the  top,  April  loth,  1861,  and  follow  with  Bull  Run,  An- 
tietam,  Fredericksburg,  Vicksburg,  Wilderness,  Spottsylvania, 
Cold  Harbor,  Petersburg  and  every  other  prominent  battle  of 
the  war  and  write  at  the  bottom  "Appomatox. "  We  are  not 
envious  because  our  daughter — City  of  Fall  River,  has  so  far 
outstripped  us  in  the  battle  of  life;  we  rejoice  at  her  phenomenal 
increase  in  population  and  in  her  great  industrial  prosperity. 
Many  of  our  children  are  living  within  her  borders  today,  have 
shared  ia  her  increase  and  have  had  a  part  in  her  upbuilding. 
She  has  bestowed  upon  them  a  goodly  share  of  her  riches  and 
her  honors.  But  it  is  not  my  province  to  go  into  historical 
matters:  that  is  left  for  others;  otherwise  I  might  have  looked 
up  our  kinship  in  the  territory  taken  from  this  town  in  1815 
and  annexed  to  Fairhaven.  In  closing  let  me  emphasize  anew 
the  fact  that  Freetown  extends  to  all  her  visitors  to-day  a  most 
cordial  welcome.      (Applause.) 

The    Mayor    of    Fall    River,    the    Honorable    George 
Grime,  being  called  upon  by  the  Chair,  responded  as  fol- 

MAYOR  GRIME'S  RESPONSE. 


Mr.  President,  Sons  and  Daughters  of  Freetown:  It  af- 
fords me  great  pleasure,  as  the  chief  executive  of  the  City  of 
Fall  River,  to  be  present  and  participate  with  you  in  the  joys 
of  this  occasion.  As  has  been  very  fittingly  said  by  your  pres- 
ident, Fall  River  is  the  daughter-city  of  Freetown;  not  merely 
in  territory,  through  the  setting  off  of  a  certain  portion  of  your 
town  in  18u3,  but  because  of  the  men  and  women  you  have 
given  to  us  making  possible  whatever  Fall  River  has  achieved. 
I  am  very  sure  that  every  thoughtful  citizen  when  he  looks 
back,  either  in  reading  or  by  thinking,  must  take  pride  that 
Fall  River  has  sprung  from  such  a  noble  town  as  Freetown. 
We  look  back  with  pride  that  Plymouth  Rock  was  the  place 
where  the  people  from  Europe,  from  England  and  the  high- 
lands of  Scotland   came  and  settled ;  not  because  it  was  any- 

•263 


thing  compared  to  what  has  been  done  since,  but  because  it 
showed  the  indomitable  spirit  of  equality  and  freedom,  which 
(we  should  thank  God  for  it)  exists  in  all  true  Americans. 
There  is  no  place  on  the  American  continent  that  exibits  that 
spirit  more  than  this  ancient  town  of  Freetown.  In  the  very 
name  of  the  town  was  that  idea  incorporated  which  lies  at  the 
basis  of  American  liberty.  The  free  men  who  made  their  pur- 
chases of  this  territory  were  the  incorporators  of  Freetown;  and 
we  citizens  of  Fall  River,  knowing  these  facts,  look  with  pride 
to  the  old  town  and  say,  "From  this  people  we  sprung."  Per- 
haps we  might  say  that  we  have  an  advantage  over  the  town  of 
Freetown.  From  whence  sprung  you  ?  Who  is  your  mother 
aiTO  father  ?  We  have  a  mother  whom  we  can  point  to  with 
pride  but  where  is  yours  ?  So  we  take  pleasure  in  participating 
with  you  in  the  honors  of  this  occasion. 

I  want  to  say  a  few  words  of  Fall  River.  We  have  a  city 
which  is  fast  assuming  proportions  which  place  her  in  the  front 
rank  among  the  cities  of  the  world.  We  were  only  born  in 
1803.  When  we  get  to  your  age,  we  hope  to  have  as  much  to 
be  proud  of  as  you  have.  When  we  celebrate  our  100th  anni- 
versary next  year,  we  want  you  to  share  with  us  in  our  joys. 
We  have  been  working  hard,  as  you  know,  in  Fall  River.  When 
it  was  started  from  you,  it  was  not  rich  nor  powerful;  but  by 
zeal,  industry  and  toil  we  have  achieved  what  we  have  achieved. 
Notwithstanding  people  may  sometimes  say  we  have  no  history, 
we  are  makers  of  history:  and  we  will  make  a  history  for  which 
no  son  or  daughter  of  Freetown  will  ever  blush.  Mills  are  be- 
ing erected  to-day  costing  nearly  one  million  of  dollars;  and 
we  have  achieved  this  prosperity  during  the  years  when  some 
people  said  that  Fall  River  was  not  prospering.  To-day  there 
is  not  a  working  man  in  the  City  of  Fall  River,  but  can  find  a 
place.  Never  in  the  history  of  the  City  of  Fall  River  has  it 
been  more  prosperous  than  today.  I  say  this  not  to  glorify 
Fall  River,  but  to  show  you  that  the  daughter-city  of  Freetown 
is  true  to  the  traditions  you  have  given  us,  and  that  we  are  try- 
ing to  prove  ourselves  the  worthy  daughter  of  this  ancient 
town. 

In  ce^nclusion,  let  me  say,  as  the  chief  executive  of  the 
City  of  Fall  River,  that  I  thank  you,  and  thank  those  frotn 
whom  you    sprung,  for  the   noble  men   and   women    you    have 

2U 


given  us,  and  who,  as  your   president    has  said,    are    part    and 
parcel  of  the  life  of  our  city. 

The  Honorable  Henry  K.  Braley  of  Fall  River  was 
felicitously  introduced  by  the  Chairman's  reading,  from  a 
recent  paper,  of  a  high  appreciation  of  Judge  Braley's 
public  services  in  his  judicial  office.      He  spoke  as  follow- s  : 

JUDGE  BRALEY'S  ADDRESS. 


Mr.  President  and  Ladies  and  Gentlemen — It  was  not  my 
good  fortune  to  first  see  the  light  of  day  within  the  limits  of 
this  ancient  and  historic  town;  but  my  ancestors  hnve  been  from 
early  times  connected  with  its  history  and  my  surname  is  in  its 
records  and  its  every-day  life.  I  notice  in  your  program  that 
you  have  said  that  the  speakers  propose  to  indulge  in  a  fund  of 
anecdote.  Unfortunately  by  my  limitations  I  cannot  be  remi- 
niscential  and  I  recognize  that  my  stock  of  anecdotes  is  ex- 
tremely limited.  But  as  I  look  about  from  this  platform  I  see 
those  who  will  undoubtedly  supply  what  is  necessary  in  this 
line.  It  is  a  very  great  pleasure  and  privilege  to  come  here  and 
join  with  you  in  recognizing  the  quiet,  forceful  lives  of  those 
who  preceded  us.  We  are  here  to  enjoy  the  present  and  to 
look  forward  with  hopeful  anticipation  to  the  future.  It  is  part 
of  the  sociological  capital  of  the  community  and  it  is  felt  among 
all  the  people  of  the  world.  None  realize  that  more,  and  strive 
to  live  it,  than  those  who  founded  this  town  and  those  who 
founded  this  nation.  The  significance  of  this  week  would  be 
lost  if  it  were  not  for  the  associations  of  environment  in  every 
New  England  town.  We  have  not  lost  the  racial  equality  and  it 
must  be  included  in  right  living  and  thinking  as  well  as  in  the 
suggestions  that  must  arise  because  of  the  facts  that  have  made 
today  possible.  Some  men  may  be  distinguished  above  their 
fellows.  There  are  a  few  people  in  every  generation  who  walk 
upon  the  stage  of  national  affairs  and  connect  their  names  with 
legislation  or  diplomacy  which  will  give  them  immortality;  but 
the  world's  work  has  got  to  be  done  by  the  average  man. 
Whatever  may  be  said  of  the  few  who  rise,  it  is  true  that  the 
plain  people  go  on  forever.  It  is  they  who  govern  things.  They 
make  possible  what  we  are  pleased  to  term  the  progress  of  hu- 

265 


manity.  It  is  they  who  established  this  township  and  in  the 
succession  of  generations  we  enter  into  their  labors,  you  and  I 
and  every  one  of  us.  Lately  a  different  line  of  thought  has 
been  advanced,  that  by  infusion  of  new  blood  the  political  ma- 
chine is  repaired  as  it  wears  out.  I  confess  that  I  am  not  wise 
enough  to  solve  that  problem  but  looking  in  here  upon  this 
gathering  is  it  not  a  just  comment  to  say  that  the  youth  of  this 
town  has  not  passed?  It  is  to-day  distinctively  an  Old  Colony 
town.  Go  to  the  Eastern  Four  Corners  and  call  the  name  of 
the  Rounsevilles  and  there  would  be  a  response  from  a  living 
man  of  like  name.  While  this  is  true,  it  is  equally  true  that  the 
future  must  bring  great  changes  here  as  elsewhere.  The  com- 
posite American  will  be  made  up  of  the  blood  of  all  the  nations 
of  the  earth;  but  will  be  none  the  less  distinctively  American. 
He  will  be  a  son  of  self-government,  as  is  this  the  free  man's 
land  and  the  free  man's  purchase. 

The  men  who  founded  this  town  and  this  nation  always 
associated  the  practical  with  a  high  ideal,  and  alwa3's  with  the 
hard  life  on  this  soil  they  had  the  dream  of  days  to  come.  Toil- 
ing away,  fearful  on  the  one  hand  of  the  forays  of  King  Philip, 
and  upon  the  other  getting  but  a  bare  subsistence,  still  they 
followed  that  ancient  dream  of  freedom,  freedom  for  their 
morning  star.  We  judge  of  the  future  by  the  past;  and  if  we 
and  those  who  succeed  us  are  true  to  the  principles  laid  down 
and  practiced  by  the  fathers,  then  future  generations  shall  come 
here  again  to  an  Old  Home  Week  and  not  only  enjoy  the  work 
of  those  who  have  preceded  us,  but  what  we  ourselves  have 
done  in  securing  the  great  blessings  which  they  enjoy  under 
this  form  of  government. 

The  Honorable  Andrew  J.  Jennings,  being  called  up- 
on by  the  Chair,  responded  in  a  speech  full  of  pleasant 
anecdote  and  reminiscence. 

HON.  A.  J.  JENNINGS'  ADDRESS. 


Mr.  President:  I  hope  Judge  Braley  has  given  you  a  war- 
rant for  this  call,  for  I  always  submit  when  the  court  speaks. 

Friends  of  Freetown,  I  had  not  expected  to  address  you  but 
I  am  pleased  to  do  so.     I  always  had  an  affection  for  this  town. 

266 


My  grand-parents  on  my  mother's  side  were  both  born  here,  I 
believe,  or  at  any  rate  lived  here.  Their  bodies  now  lie  buried 
in  your  soil.  My  mother  was  born  here  and  I  was  just  think- 
ing whether  I  was  born  here  or  not.  I  was  born  in  the  old 
town  of  Freetown  which  went  to  the  Quequechan  River.  I 
was  born  on  the  north  side  of  the  river  and  I  have  lived  on  the 
north  side  ever  since.  So  I  take  a  pride  in  claiming  to  be  a  son 
of  Freetown. 

I  have  been  looking  about,  as  I  sat  here,  to  see  the  people 
I  knew  when  I  was  a  boy.  Some  of  the  pleasantest  associa- 
tions of  my  life  are  associated  with  this  town.  I  think  it  is  the 
first  place  I  ever  emigrated  to  from  Fall  River.  They  gave  me 
an  old  fashioned  carpet-bag,  (it  was  made  of  carpet)  and  I 
started  ovit  for  my  grand-mother"s  in  Assonet.  It  seemed  to 
me  as  if  it  was  a  thousand  miles  from  the  station  to  where  she 
lived.  I  think  by  the  time  I  was  fifteen  3'ears  old  I  knew  every 
huckle-berry  bush  around  here  from  Jael's  Bank  north.  They 
tell  me  that  my  grand-father  (who  was  a  sailor  and  went  to  sea 
as  captain  for  Edmund  Hathaway,  the  great  business  man  of  your 
town)  sailed  for  many  years  and  twenty-eight  or  twenty-nine  voy- 
ages to  the  West  Indies  and  never  lost  a  sail  or  a  spar.  I  came  up 
here  once  in  a  sail-boat  and  went  clamming.  There  was  a  big 
thunder  storm  when  we  came  back  and  the  result  was  that  the  boat 
capsized  and  we  went  into  the  river.  It  tore  the  sail  and  split  the 
jib  in  two  places  and  I  was  sitting  astride  the  rudder  of  a  boat 
full  of  water.  Some  disagreeable  men  told  my  uncle  about  it 
and  made  comparisons  between  me  and  my  grand-father,  the 
old  captain  who  made  twenty-nine  voyages  to  the  West  Indies 
and  the  grandson  who  could  not  go  clamming  in  A.ssonet  River 
without  getting  shipwrecked. 

I  rejoice  with  you  in  this  cheerful  reunion.  I  think  it  is  a 
good  thing  to  have  people  come  back  here  and  get  acquainted 
with  one  another  again.  They  are  men  who  have  gone  forth 
and  made  their  names  and  done  their  part  in  the  building  up  of 
this  great  country  and  in  the  development  of  the  national  lite, 
and  they  come  back  to  this  soil  from  which  they  sprang  to  give 
you  something  of  the  impulse  animating  them,  that  impulse 
which  is  always  the  best  and  tenderest  of  the  home  associations 
which  are  connected  with  the  soil  from  which  these  men  sprung. 


They  remind  me  of  the  story  of  Antaeus  the  giant  that  was  slain 
by  Hercules.  The  story  runs  that  the  earth  was  his  mother. 
Of  the  men  who  wrestled  with  Antaeus  some  threw  but  he 
would  not  stay  thrown;  and  the  secret  of  his  strength  by  which 
he  overcame  all  who  came  was  this:  Whenever  he  was  thrown 
to  the  earth,  this  mother  of  his  infused  new  courage  into  him 
and  he  arose  with  twice  the  strength  he  had  when  he  fell. 
Then  Hercules  came  along — the  embodiment  of  physical 
power,  labor  and  courage.  Nothing  could  withstand  him.  He 
threw  the  giant  repeatedly,  who  every  time  sprang  up  stronger 
and  stronger;  till  finally  Hercules  raised  him  in  his  arms  off  the 
earth  and  strangled  him  in  the  air.  There  is  a  great  secret 
in  that  story.  The  man  comes  back  to  mother  earth  and  re- 
ceives new  strength  and  life  from  her.  Occasions  like  this 
bring  back  men  from  the  bustle  of  life,  causing  them  to  think 
of  what  their  fathers  here  were,  and  what  they  did.  Free  men 
came  here  and  bought  this  wilderness  when  it  was  untravelled 
save  by  the  Indians.  They  came  here  into  the  howling  wilder- 
ness, cut  down  the  trees,  and  tore  the  rocks  from  the  soil,  and 
built  these  stone  fences.  What  incredible  labor  those  fences 
represent.  I  had  a  triend  here  from  California  and  no  matter 
how  much  I  directed  his  attention  to  the  scenery  along  the 
Taunton  River  I  could  not  divert  his  attention  from  the  stone 
walls.  It  was  to  him  the  most  astonishing  thing.  That  men 
should  tear  rocks  fr.im  the  soil  so  that  it  should  be  cultivated 
and  build  those  walls  seemed  to  him  unspeakable.  That  is 
what  those  men  did.  They  listened  to  the  yell  of  the  savage  as 
they  built  this  village,  and  they  developed  its  industries  until 
in  1803  or  1804  you  tore  it  off  a  few  miles  north  of  the  Queque- 
chan  River  and  it  became  a  part  of  Fall  River  with  a  population 
of  108,000  people.  Now  in  place  of  the  war-whoop  of  the 
savage  we  have  the  whistle  of  the  locomotive  and  what  is  almost 
as  bad,  the  noise  of  the  automobile.  Now  we  give  you  the  hum 
of  thousands  of  millions  of  spindles.  Some  one  dared  to  ac- 
complish that.  Now  the  appeal  is  to  the  sons  and  descendants: 
"What  are  you  doing  up  here?"  Are  you  doing  anything?  My 
ancestors  came  here  and  did  something  to  make  the  place  better 
than  they  found  it.  My  word  to  you  is,  let  every  man,  woman 
and  child  try  to  emulate  those  ancestors  and  do  something  for 
the  spot  where  we  stand  whether  Assonet  or  Freetown. 

268 


The  Reverend  John  Nichols  of  vSeattle,  Washingon,  re- 
turned on  a  brief  furlough  from  his  Home  Missionary  work 
on  the  Pacific  coast,  answered  the  call  of  the  Chairman. 

Mr.  President :  We  have  heard  a  good  deal  of  the  lawyers 
who  have  come  from  Freetown,  but  not  much  of  the  divines. 
They  are  not  very  numerous;  just  how  many  I  do  not  know. 
We  remember  that  in  early  times  the  sons  of  Freetown  have 
not  always  manifested  a  kindly  disposition  toward  the  clerical 
profession.  Looking  up  the  records,  I  find  not  so  much  of 
opposition  to  Christianity  and  the  church,  as  of  impatience  of 
the  interference  of  the  Bay  Colony  with  Freetown  affairs.  The 
principles  of  our  ancestors  have  not  been  forgotten. 

I  did  not  come  to  speak  as  a  minister.  I  want  to  lay  off 
my  black  coat  and  white  tie  and  be  a  boy  again.  I  am  more 
than  pleased,  I  am  honored,  to  meet  again  these  grandsons  and 
more  distant  descendants  of  the  town.  We  are  all  honored.  It 
is  a  real  home  festival  to  us  to  see  the  faces  which  we  have  so 
often  seen  in  the  past.  This  old  soil  is  all  familiar  to  us.  I 
believe  I  could  find  my  way  around  even  now  with  my  eyes 
blindfolded.  Here  we  learned  to  use  the  oar  and  here  we  sailed 
the  pond.  In  this  old  school-yard  we  learned  to  plav  ball  and 
threw  snow-balls;  and  we  cut  our  names  on  the  desks  in  that 
lower  room.  Here  we  heard  the  blue-bird  sing.  We  used  to 
have  a  blue-bird  in  a  basket  which  we  let  out  occasionally  and 
we  heard  it  sing.  All  these  associations  make  this  place  dear, 
and  especially,  Mr.  President,  this  opportunity  of  seeing  old 
faces  and  grasping  the  hands  we  have  grasped  in  the  years 
past.  In  behalf  of  these  loyal  sons  and  daughters  of  Freetown 
who  have  come  back,  we  want,  Mr.  President,  to  thank  you  for 
the  welcome  you  have  given  us  and  for  this  opportunity  of  look- 
ing around  and  seeing  again  these  familiar  places  and  the  old 
folks  sitting  here  and  the  wanderers  who  have  come  back  again. 
It  has  been  no  small  labor,  and  in  behalf  of  the  returning  sons 
we  wish  to  thank  you  for  what  you  have  done.  I  do  not  know 
what  more  I  can  say.  The  New  England  disposition  is  very 
reticent. 

We  love  this  old  place  because  it  is  our  own.  It  is  the 
place  where  we  belong;  and  I  love  it  because  it  has  not  gone 
backward  and  has  not  forgotten  the  past.     As  I  have  come  back 

269 


here  in  years  past  I  have  seen  the  improvement  in  this  place,  I 
have  seen  the  old  Four  Corners  changed  and  I  have  seen  the 
sidewalk  put  in  front  of  the  door;  I  have  seen  the  old  houses 
painted  and  a  public  spirit  that  was  not  here  when  I  was  a  boy. 
I  love  this  town  because  of  the  men  who  stayed  here  and  lived 
here  and  have  given  life  to  this  town  as  boys  and  girls  who  have 
grown  up  here.  Mr.  Grime  told  us  that  Fall  River  was  in- 
debted to  us  not  only  for  the  land  but  for  the  men  we  have  sent 
to  it.  In  this  age  we  say  that  the  city  is  the  center  of  all  things 
and  is  the  holder  of  the  key  to  the  future;  but  the  town  some- 
times holds  the  destiny  of  the  cities.  What  has  made  Fall  River, 
Boston  and  New  York  ?  What  has  made  the  professors,  preach- 
ers and  lawyers  ?  It  is  the  country  boy.  We  have  had  men 
and  women  who  have  gone  forth  and  become  powers  in  the 
cities  of  the  world.  We  wish  to  express  our  affection  for  this 
old  town  and  hope  as  we  come  from  time  to  time  we  shall  see 
the  influence  of  this  Old  Home  Week,  producing  still  more 
power  than  we  have  seen  produced  in  the  past. 

Before  the  concluding  music,  the  following  letter  from 
the  Honorable  John  Hay,  vSecretary  of  State,  was  listened 
to  by  the  assembly  with  mingled  feelings  of  pride  in  the 
town's  illustrious  grandson,,  and  regret  at  his  absence. 

Department  of  State, 
Dear  Sir: —  Washington,   April  IC,   1903. 

I  have  received  your  letter  of  the  14th  of  April,  enclosing 
a  programme  of  the  Old  Home  Festival  of  Freetown,  and  am 
greatly  touched  and  flattered  by  your  kind  invitation. 

It  would  be  a  great  pleasure  to  me  to  be  with  you  during 
the  coming  summer,  but,  as  I  have  already  explained  to  Senator 
Hoar,  who  kindly  reinforced  your  invitation  with  his  own 
authoritative  and  influential  words,  it  is  entirely  beyond  my 
power  to  make  any  such  engagements.  My  time  is  fully  oc- 
cupied, and  what  little  strength  I  have  is  subject  to  greater 
drafts  than  I  can  honor.  I  can,  therefore,  only  thank  you  most 
sincerely  for  your  kindness,  and  express  my  profound  regret 
that  I  cannot  this  year  make  the  pious  pilgrimage  to  which  you 
invited  me. 

I  am,  with  very  many  thanks. 

Sincerely  yours, 

Rev.  Leonard  W.  Bacon,  (Signed)  JOHN   HAY. 

Assonet,  Mass. 

270 


Promptly  after  the  conclusion  of  the  Banquet  in  the 
Town  Hall,  served  by  Caterer  Victor  Gelb  of  Providence, 
R.  I.,  and  partaken  of  by  400  people,  the  Chair  was  again 
taken  in  the  North  Church  by  the  President  of  the  day. 
In  a  few  apt  words  he  introduced  the  Orator,  Curtis  Guild, 
Junior,  of  Boston,  who  was  greeted  with  an  enthusiastic 
welcome  by  the  thronged  assembly. 

THE  ORATION  BY  CURTIS  GUILD,  JR.,  OF  BOSTON. 


The  Puritan's  Contribution  to  American  Citizenship. 

Like  most  strong  nations,  the  United  vStates  is  of  mixed 
stock.  Latin  and  Kelt  and  Teuton  built  up  the  Roman  Em- 
pire; Phoenician  and  Roman  and  Gaul  and  Frank  mingle  in  the 
Frenchman;  Briton  and  Dane  and  Saxon  bred  the  Englishman. 

To  which  of  these  can  it 
be  said  that  the  Amer- 
ican owes  nothing  ? 

Washington,  Adams, 

Lafayette,      Carroll, 

Schuyler,    Pulaski,  Von 

Steuben,     Paul     Jones; 

it  needs  but  to  name  the 

men  of  the  Revolution 

to    remind    us   that  the 

blood    not   of   England, 

Scotland,     and    Ireland 

only,    but    of   well-nigh 

every  nation  of  Europe, 

flowed    from     the    first 

in  the  veins  of  the  young 

republic.     The  roots  of 

the      tree      spread     far 

asunder,    the    trunk    is 

CURTIS  GUILD,  jR  Upright  and  one. 

Romance  has  gilded  the  settlement  of  Florida  and  Canada. 

The  glittering  coiiqiicstador    with  [morion    and   arquebus,    the 

brave   coiirciir   de    bois    in    blanket    and    buskin,   are   romantic 

271 


figures  beside  whom  the  settler  of  New  England,  the  serious 
Puritan  in  sombre  brown  and  gray,  cuts  an  inconspicuous  and 
perhaps  unpleasing  figure.  Polite  literature  has  been  none  too 
kind  to  him. 

Shakespeare  caricatured  the  Puritans  in  Malvolio;  old 
Burton  in  his  Anatomy  of  Melancholy  could  find  no  better  terms 
for  them  than  "rude,  illiterate,  capricious,  base  fellows."  The 
one  quotation  by  which  Lord  Macauley  is  best  known  is  the 
smart  sentence  in  which  he  declares  that  the  Puritans  "did  not 
believe  in  bear-baiting;  not  because  it  gave  pain  to  the  bear  but 
because  it  gave  pleasure  to  the  spectators."  Even  Charles 
Dickens  speaks  of  them  as  "an  uncomfortable  people,  who 
thought  it  highly  meritorious  to  dress  in  a  hideous  manner." 

Though  the  Puritans  and  the  memory  of  them  thus  for 
generations  afforded  material  for  those  who  pander  to  the 
thoughtless  with  caricature,  lampoon  and  idle  jest,  yet  their 
work  and  their  fame  is  safe,  secured  in  that  consciousness  of 
right  that  the  Latin  proverb-maker  declared  to  be  a  brazen  wall 
against  the  shafts  of  slander.  Song  and  play  and  ballad  may 
chant  the  praises  of  the  Cavalier,  but  history  belongs  to  his 
conqueror. 

The  cavaliers  who  rode  so  bravel}'  behind  Prince  Rupert 
and  King  Charles  have  left  us  a  world  of  romance,  but  it  was 
the  stern  faced  followers  of  John  Knox  and  John  Hampden,  the 
Scottish  Covenanter  and  the  English  Puritan,  who  overthrew 
the  tyranny  of  kings  and  left  us  no  legacy,  indeed,  in  the  realm 
of  fancy  but  sound,  hard  facts  in  the  shape  of  the  rights  of  the 
people,  the  very  foundation  of  the  structure  of  this  Republic. 

The  gentlemen  who  sought  a  Western  Golconda  at  James- 
town called  themselves  Adventurers.  The  plain  people  who 
first  sought  the  shores  of  bleak  New  England  we  know  as  Pil- 
grims. The  Adventurers  came  to  the  New  World  to  seek  their 
fortune;  the  Pilgrims  and  Puritans  to  earn  it.  No  weak-hearted 
wail  went  up  from  bleak  New  England  at  her  early  sufferings. 
Hunger,  cold  and  savages  could  not  turn  these  brave  hearts 
from  their  purpose.  When  the  biting  New  England  Winter 
found  them  without  further  supply  of  food,  they  gathered  the 
acorns  from  the  woods,  the  clams  and  mussels  from  the  beaches, 
and  glorified  God,  to  use  the  old  words,  "who  had  given   them 

272 


to  suck  of  the  abundance  of  the  seas  and  of  treasure  hid  in  the 
sands." 

To  understand  the  Puritan  it  is  necessary  to  understand 
the  times  that  gave  him  birth.  He  was  not  merely  the  follower 
of  a  religious  creed  that  differed  from  the  one  originally  accepted 
in  Europe.  Indeed,  though  the  first  few  shiploads  of  New 
England  settlers  were  agreed,  the  English  Puritans  as  a  body 
differed  widely  among  themselves,  both  as  to  creed  and  church 
government.  Some  were  Independents,  or  Congregationalists, 
some  were  Presbyterians,  and  John  Milton  was  a  Socinian  or 
what  would  now  be  called  a  Unitarian.  The  bond  that  held 
these  Englishmen  most  firmly  together,  indeed,  was  union  in 
a  rebellion,  not  so  much  against  the  religious  creed  of  the  Es- 
tablished Church  of  England  as  against  the  social  and  moral 
conditions  of  the  day.  The  Hundred  Years'  War  and  the  Wars 
of  the  Roses  had  utterly  demoralized  the  English  people.  The 
rise  of  Parliament  and  popular  government,  which  had  grown 
to  such  a  height  under  Richard  II.,  had  been  not  only  checked 
but  cut  down.  England  was  less  free  in  the  sixteenth  century 
than  she  had  been  in  the  fourteenth.  The  Tudors  were  despots 
almost  as  truly  as  the  Romanoffs.  France  had  become  a  mere 
field  for  plunder  and  murder  by  Englishmen  and  their  allies. 
When  Shakespeare,  even  in  his  day,  speaks  of  "infants  quar- 
tered by  the  hands  of  war,"  he  is  not  using  his  imagination. 
He  is  describing  what  ordinarily  occurred  at  the  sack  of  a  city. 
The  France  that  Joan  of  Arc  freed  from  English  rule  was  in- 
finitely more  wretched  than  Cuba  under  Spanish  rule. 

Queen  Elizabeth  was  personally  a  patron  of  bull-baiting 
and  bear-baiting.  So,  in  her  day,  were  most  people.  The 
Maypole,  a  relic  of  the  most  depraved  worship  of  all  paganism, 
was  no  mere  excuse  for  an  innocent  dance,  but  the  centre  of  the 
vilest  debauchery.  The  Merry  Mount  and  its  Maypole  at  Wol- 
laston  was  as  vile  as  the  so-called  Merry  Monarch  who  ruled 
England  under  the  name  of  Charles  II.,  and  the  world  was 
the  better  when  both  were  removed. 

The  Puritans  turned  to  the  Bible,  not  only  because  they 
loved  its  teachings,  but  because  under  Henry  VIII.,  it  was 
almost  the  only  book  a  decent  man  could  read.  The  foulest 
tales  of   debauchery,    universally    circulated,    formed  the  only 

273 


popular  literature,  and  aided  to  debase  popular  morality.  The 
Lord's  Day  was  invaded  not  by  sports  alone,  but  by  the  wildest 
license.  The  laborer,  moreover,  could  not  legally  enjoy  even 
that  day  of  rest  unless  his  master  chose.  Public  office  went  by 
favor;  an  ex-highwayman  was  made  chief  justice,  and  kings 
and  queens  fitted  out  the  ships  of  pirates  and  shared  their  booty. 

This  was  the  social  structure  which  the  Puritan  faced  and 
to  which  he  struck  the  first  shattering  blow.  His  faults  were 
patent.  He  was  intolerant  m  an  intolerant  age.  He  was, 
however,  something  more  than  a  bigoted  sectary  who  hanged 
witches  and  persecuted  Quakers.  He  was  a  citizen,  to  whom 
the  duty  of  citizenship  was  a  second  religion.  The  citizen  who 
came  late  to  the  early  New  England  town  meetings,  the  citizen 
who  neglected  to  attend,  was  regarded  not  only  morally  but 
legally  as  a  criminal  and  was  fined  as  such.  The  Puritan  ac- 
cepted the  privilege  of  liberty  only  as  a  responsibility,  appre- 
ciating, as  his  descendants  too  often  fail  to  appreciate,  how 
hardly  those  privileges  were  won. 

His  was  the  cause  of  the  plain  man  against  the  tyrant,  the 
honest  man  against  the  rogue,  the  virtuous  man  against  the 
rake,  the  patriot  against  the  plunderer.  Faults  he  had  in  com- 
mon with  poor  humanity  of  all  ages,  but  it  may  at  least  be  said 
that  he  was  simple  in  an  age  of  extravagance,  austere  in  the 
midst  of  debauchery,  honest  though  ruled  by  corruption,  and 
sincere  though  subject  to  a  succession  of  sovereigns  constant 
in  nothing  but  the  pursuit  of  their  own  selfish  desires. 

Such  were  the  makers  of  New  England;  such  the  men  to 
whom  we  of  New  England  owe  more  than  our  country.  The 
greatest  heritage  they  have  left  us  is  not  the  territory  they  took 
from  the  Indians,  as  the  Indians  had  taken  it  from  the  Skrael- 
ings.  They  left  us  their  greatest  gifts,  the  New  England  town 
meeting  and  the  New  England  conscience;  popular  government 
and  the  control  of  self  that  makes  it  possible. 


The    following    is   the   Festival    Poem,    read,    at   the 
author's  request,  by  the  Secretary : 


274 


OUR  OLD  HOME. 


A    FREETOWN    BALLAD. 


When  this  new  world  was  wild  and  strange 

Beyond  our  skill  in  showing, 
To  Puritan  and  Pilgrim  bands 

It  furnished  room  for  growing. 

Their  proper  sphere  they  found  amid 

Its  rude,  ungoverned  places, 
With  freedom's  air  on  every  side 

And  earth  in  ample  spaces. 
One  trait  in  common  they  displayed — 

These  sensible  crusaders ; 
Soldiers  and  scholars,  scribes,  divines, 

All,  were  a  race  of  traders. 
A  continent  at  market  price 

Was  here  about  them  lying, 
And  well  their  talents  they  employed 

In  bartering  and  buymg. 
A  few  of  them  were  hither  sent, 

To  make  reports  to  others 
Concerning  certain  lands  this  way 

Possessed  by  Indian  brothers. 
They  came  and  made  their  errand  known, 

Debating  long  upon  it 
W^ith  Weetamoe,  a  native  queen. 

And  sachems  'round  Assonet. 
At  length  the  parties  came  to  terms; 

And  then  our  bargain-makers 
Gave  "broadcloth,  kettles,  rugs  and  hoes" 

And -took  exchange  in  acres. 
And  thus  "ye  ancient  freemen's  lots" 

Were  duly  bought  and  granted, 
And  soon  the  settlers  of  the  soil 

Their  fields  had  cleared  and  planted. 
And  while  beneath  the  sun  and  showers 

Their  crops  of  grain  were  growing, 
They  caught  and  trained  the  running  brooks 

To  set  their  mill-wheels  going. 
Their  homes  they  scattered  up  and  down 

These  hills  and  winding  waters, 
Where  they  abode  with  thrifty  wives 

And  troops  of  sons  and  daughters. 
275 


They  venerated  gospel  rule, 

And  young  and  old  together 
Attended  church  each  Sunday  through 

In  every  phase  of  weather. 
The  laws  they  held  in  high  esteem, 

And  kept  the  statutes  truly. 
With  stocks  and  whipping-post  at  hand 

To  punish  the  unruly. 
The  schools  were  taught  by  men  of  zeal 

Their  business  well  discerning, 
Who  freely  scourged  the  pupils  up 

The  rugged  heights  of  learning. 
And  so  the  early  people  wrought — 

The  men  of  common  station 
Who  helped  to  launch  this  ship  of  state 

And  found  a  mighty  nation. 
And  from  our  stalwart  pioneers 

The  hardy  sons  descending 
Through  passing  centuries  here  have  dwelt. 

Their  qniet  fortunes  tending. 
And  if  at  morn  they  followed  forth 

Ambition's  eager  calling. 
They  longed  to  turn  their  footsteps  back, 

As  evening's  shades  were  falling. 
And  thus  the  village  grew,  and  kept 

Its  homes  of  love  and  duty. 
Where  Nature  with  a  liberal  hand 

Dispensed  her  gifts  of  beauty. 
As  fair  a  spot  it  seems,  to  those 

With  all  its  charms  acquainted, 
As  that  "sweet  Auburn,"  known  to  fame. 

That  English  Goldsmith  painted. 
And,  touched  by  years,  its  gentle  scenes 

Are  grown  historic  places, 
Where  children  of  the  age  have  come 

To  seek  the  fathers'  traces. 
Then  let  the  modern  stage  withdraw 

To  hold  its  court  hereafter, 
While  old-time  memories  blend  with  all 

Our  speech  and  song  and  laughter. 
And  one  in  spirit,  faith  and  works 

With  those  who  went  before  us, 
A  kindred  clan,  we  hail  the  day. 

And  join  in  heartfelt  chorus. 


276 


After  the  spirited  singing  of  the  Ode  written  by  Mr. 
Herbert  E.  Hathaway,  a  grandson  of  Freetown,  a  brief 
time  remained  before  the  appointed  hour  of  adjournment, 
which,  it  was  felt  by  all,  could  not  be  better  occupied  than 
in  listening  to  our  representatives  in  the  national  Congress 
and  in  the  Senate  of  Massachusetts.  The  first  to  be  called 
on  by  the  Chairman  was  the  Honorable  W.  S.  Greene, 
M.  C,  of  Fall  River. 

ADDRESS  OF  HON.  W.  S.  GREENE. 


Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  I  cannot  come  to  you  as  a  citizen 
belonging  to  Freetown  but  I  have  lived  so  long  with  a  daughter 
of  Freetown  that  I  must  be  acclimated.  A  few  months  ago  I  was 
called  upon  to  speak  at  a  meeting  of  the  Loyal  Legion  held  in 
Washington,  and  was  called  as  a  son  of  Rhode  Island.  I  was 
a  descendant  of  General  Nathaniel  Greene  and  was  consequently 
at  home  with  many  members  of  the  Loyal  Legion.  I  could 
respond  here  as  well  as  there  but  not  as  a  son  of  Rhode  Island. 
My  father  was  a  native  of  Rhode  Island,  my  mother  a  native 
of  Ohio.  They  were  married  in  Minnesota,  and  I  was  born  in 
Illinois.  But  I  have  lived  in  Fall  River  since  1844  and  I  claim 
to  be  very  near  to  the  citizens  of  Fall  River  and  this  common- 
wealth. 

Consider  this  country  as  it  was  at  the  time  of  my  earliest 
recollections.  I  remember  the  first  train  of  steam  cars  that 
went  out  of  Fall  River  in  1845,  the  visit  of  James  K.  Polk  on 
July  5th,  ISiT,  and  the  men  who  went  from  this  section  in  1849 
to  California.  I  was  calling  upon  a  daughter  of  Freetown  a  few 
days  ago,  and  she  showed  me  a  photograph  of  some  of  the  men 
who  went  to  California  in  1849.  I  recognized  three  of  them 
men — whom  I  knew  very  well,  William  C.  Strobridge,  James 
M.  Strobridge  and  Dr.  Hathaway.  That  old  photograph 
brought  back  some  very  pleasant  recollections.  All  my  early 
associations  were  those  who  came  from  Freetown.  I  thought 
to  myself  as  I  rode  through  this  beautiful  town  a  few  days 
ago  what  beautiful  things  surrounded  it  and  how  quiet  it  all 
was.  I  strolled  by  the  shore  and  I  found  there  the  hum  of  in- 
dustry. I  had  never  been  interested  in  the  gun-shop  before, 
but  it  showed  that  you  had  the  idea   which   has  permeated  all 

277 


this  section, — the  creating  of  industry  and  the  providing  of  em- 
ployment for  the  people.  So  I  found  this  gun-shop  where  they 
make  the  implements  not  of  warfare,  but  of  peaceful  sport. 

In  General  Guild's  remarks  he  told  us  of  cases  of  heroism 
and  my  attention  was  called  recently  to  such  a  case.  You  all 
recall  the  17th  of  March  when  the  great  disaster  occurred  on 
Cape  Cod,  when  the  men  of  the  Monomoy  life-saving  crew 
started  to  rescue  men  from  the  wreck  of  a  vessel.  Eight  of 
them  went  out  to  rescue  five,  and  took  their  lives  in  their  hands. 
These  duties  come  to  men  every  day  and  they  came  to  those 
eight  men  who  went  out  to  save  five  others.  One  daring  in- 
trepid man  saw  another  clinging  to  the  boat  in  those  treach- 
erous waters.  He  found  a  dory  and  threw  it  into  the  water  but 
it  had  no  oars.  He  improvised  oars  and  found  that  there  were 
no  oar-locks.  He  improvised  oar-locks  and  started  out  into  the 
waters.  Someone  said  to  him,  "Don't  put  that  boat  into  the 
water;  don't  get  into  that  boat.  If  you  get  in  you  will  lose 
your  life.  It  is  dangerous  for  you  to  go;  you  will  never  come 
back."  The  answer  came  back,  "I  can  go;"  and  go  he  did,  and 
rescued  the  sole  survivor  of  that  terrible  disaster.  So  heroes 
live  today,  even  while  we  move  about  in  our  usual  vocations. 
Heroes  come  and  heroes  take  up  the  battle  of  life  and  when 
these  duties  come  to  them  they  do  not  hesitate.  We  speak 
sometimes,  as  our  friend  did  of  the  work  of  the  Pilgrims.  We 
today  are  following  out  the  lines  which  they  followed.  They 
came  to  this  shore  that  they  might  find  freedom ;  and  when 
they  found  it  they  were  not  contented;  they  wanted  someone 
else  to  enjoy  what  they  possessed.  Today  we  welcome  to  our 
shores  people  from  all  the  world.  We  establish  our  public 
schools  and  we  provide  for  their  education.  We  teach  them 
that  they  can  come  from  other  shores  and  enjoy  the  blessings 
of  liberty  under  the  laws  and  constitution  of  the  United  States. 
So  our  duty  is  to-day  to  hold  up  higher  the  privileges  and  op- 
portunities of  an  American  citizen.  We  find  today  men  in  all 
walks  of  life  who  might  make  great  successes  in  any  line  of 
business;  many  of  whom  sacrifice  time,  abilities  and  give  up 
great  incomes  which  they  might  enjoy,  that  they  may  serve  you 
and  me  and  all  their  fellow  citizens.  Look  at  the  vast  number 
in  public  life  and  in  the  cabinet  of  our  country.  And  all  around 
us  we  find  those  who    have    made   the    sacrifice    and    deprived 

278 


themselves  of  enjoyment  with  their  families  that  they  may  build 
up  this  great  country  and  nation  and  strengthen  the  institutions 
for  which  the  great  sacrifice  was  made  one  hundred  years  ago. 
The  sacrifices  of  that  time  are  not  the  sacrifices  of  to-day.  But 
the  sacrifices  of  those  who  gave  up  their  health,  their  strength 
and  perhaps  their  lives,  mean  for  us  great  blessings,  great  priv- 
ileges and  great  enjoyment.      (Applause.) 

The  few  minutes  remaining  before  the  appointed  hour 
of  closing  were  gladly  conceded  to  the  Honorable  Rufus 
A.  Soule,  of  New  Bedford,  President  of  the  Massachusetts 
Senate. 

ADDRESS  OF  HON.  RUFUS  A.  SOULE. 


Mr.  President:  I  heard  you  say  a  few  minutes  ago  that 
you  wanted  to  close  at  4  o'clock.  I  feel  somewhat  as  an  orator 
on  a  certain  occasion  might  have  felt.  When  he  arose  to  speak 
he  asked,  "What  shall  I  speak  about  ?"  "About  two  minutes," 
came  the  answer  from  the  audience. 

I  am  glad  to  be  here  today.  It  has  been  an  enjoyable  day 
because  I  have  met  many  friends  and  have  learned  (what  I  knew 
before)  that  Freetown  is  one  of  the  grandest  towns  in  this  com- 
monwealth of  ours.  I  knew  that  it  was  a  beautiful  village  and 
had  done  wonderful  things,  but  I  never  realized  that  the  neigh- 
boring city  owed  its  entire  being  to  its  being  built  up  by  the 
good  people  of  Freetown.  Every  one  here  today  is  proud  of 
this  grand  old  town.  We  are  told  sometimes  that  when  dis- 
tinguished men  visit  our  cities  the  mayor  or  the  chairman  of 
the  day  rises  and  says,  "We  extend  to  you  the  freedom  of  the 
city."  In  this  case  the  very  name  of  the  town  extends  it 
without  any  mayor  or  board  of  selectmen.  It  is  a  grand  good 
name.  For  the  last  seven  years  men  have  come  down  from 
this  town  to  my  city,  men  sent  by  the  party  to  which  I  have  the 
honor  to  belong  and  have  voted  for  me  as  a  candidate  for 
senator.  If  this  is  such  a  grand  town,  how  proud  the  men 
should  be  whom  the  citizens  have  selected  to  represent  them  in 
the  general  court.  I  am  proud  of  the  fact  that  men  of  this  town 
went  into  the  voting  places  and  voted  for  me  without  regard  to 
their  poHtical  affiliations.  In  my  army  days  I  followed  the 
colonel  of  the  regiment  who  rode  a  black  horse,  but  I    went  on 

279 


foot  aad  carried  a  musket.  I  remember  good  men  in  that 
regiment  from  Freetown.  I  remember  Captain  Marble  and  his 
stirring  words,  and  I  am  glad  to  remember  him  and  to  come  to 
his  town  and  join  with  you  in  this  celebration. 

My  friends,  my  time  is  up.  I  am  going  to  stop.  But  I 
will  tell  you  what  my  text  would  be  if  I  were  to  talk  longer. 
It  would  be  the  first  four  lines  of  the  ode  which  has  been  sung 
and  which  commences  'How  shall  we  best  the  work  complete?' 
To  you  much  has  been  given  and  of  you  much  shall  be  required. 
See  to  it  that  the  generations  which  are  to  come  have  the  same 
reason  to  look  back  and  point  with  pride  to  their  ancestors  as 
we  have  to  ours. 

At  the  brief  Concert  in  the  evening-,  the  old  church 
was,  if  possible,  even  more  densely  thronged  than  during 
the  day.  Sustained  by  the  organ,  the  Festival  Chorus  was 
in  excellent  voice  and  heart  in  the  two  choruses  from 
Bishop.  And  it  is  safe  to  say  that  few  who  heard  Mr. 
Rowland's  charming  sympathetic  singing  of  that  "old- 
home"  song,  The  Old  Oaken  Bucket,  and  the  brilliant 
violin  playing  of  Miss  Purrington,  will  easily  forget  the 
performance,  or  will  remember  it  otherwise  than  with 
delight.  The  generous  assistance  of  these  accomplished 
musicians  filled  up  the  debt  of  obligation  which  they  had 
already  laid  upon  our  town  by  their  former  kindness. 

At  the  close  of  this  hour  of  music,  the  sky  was  already 
dark  enough  for  the  display  of  fireworks.  The  hill-top  in 
the  rear  of  the  church  was  an  excellent  point  of  vantage 
from  which  they  could  be  seen  in  almost  every  part  of  the 
village ;  and  for  an  hour,  in  rapid  succession,  without  in- 
terruption or  accident  or  delay,  a  brilliant  suite  of  pieces 
was  fired. 

Altogether,  a  more  completely  successful  popular 
celebration  than  this  it  is  difficult  to  imagine.  And  in  no 
part  of  it  had  the  town  better  reason  to  be  proud,  than  in 
the  perfect  orderliness  and  dignity  of  the  great  concourse 
in  attendance  through  the  entire  day.  Not  a  single  in- 
cident occurred  in  the  whole  of  it,  to  be  remembered  with 

380 


regret.  Not  long  after  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening,  the 
last  rocket  had  burst  in  the  sky,  and  the  last  Catherine- 
wheel  had  fizzed  and  sputtered  and  exploded ;  and  except 
for  the  happy  gatherings  in  many  a  home,  the  village  had 
settled  down  into  its  customary  quiet. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Freetown  Old  Home  Festival 
Executive  Committee,  held  at  Assonet  Village,  Tuesday 
evening  August  12,  10(»2,  the  following  preamble  and 
resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted  : 

Whereas,  The  Freetown  Old  Home  Festival  held  at  As- 
sonet Village  July  oO,  1902  proved  to  be  an  enjoyable  occasion; 
and  one  that  will  be  long  and  very  pleasantly  remembered  by 
all  who  attended  the  same;  and 

Whereas,  Much  of  the  pleasure  of  the  day  centered  in  the 
afternoon  exercises  at  the  Old  North  Church  where  Mr.  Curtis 
Guild,  Jr.  of  Boston  delivered  the  oration;  and 

Whereas,  His  ready  flow  of  instructive  and  highly  enter- 
taining language  contributed  so  largely  to  the  happiness  of  the 
occasion ;  therefore  be  it 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  for  itself,  for  the  Town  of 
Freetown,  and  in  behalf  of  all  in  attendance  most  heartily 
thanks  Mr.  Guild  for  his  valued  assistance. 

Resolved,     That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be  sent   to   Mr. 

Guild,  and  that  they  be  published   in  the    Historical  Souvenir 

Volume. 

JOHN  M.    DEANE, 

Chairman. 
Leonard  W.   Bacon, 
Secretary. 

Also  at  this  meeting,  it  was  unanimously  voted  that 
the  thanks  of  the  Committee  be  extended  to  each  person 
who  rendered  valuable  services  in  connection  with  the  Old 
Home  Day,  July  3(»,  1U02. 


381 


INDEX. 


PAGE 

Address — 2\Iaj.  John  M.  Deane              .                         .                         .  261 

Hon.  George  Grime                            .                         .  263 

Hon.  Henry  K.  Braley          .                        .                         .  265 

Hon.  A.  J.  Jennings                            .                         .  266 

Rev.  John  Nichols                  .                         .                        .  269 

Hon.  W.  S.  Greene                              .                         .  277 

Hon.  Rufus  A.  Soule             .                        .                         .  279 

Ashley,  Capt.  Albert  B.                  .                         .                        .  82 

Assessors,  List  of               .                         .                         .                         .  144 

ASSONET  RIVER                        ...  206 

Assonet  River,  Map  of      .                         .                         .                        .  204 

Bacon,  Rufus           ....  118 
Battelle,  Hezekiah              .                         .                         .                         .118 

Battle  of  Freetown                          .                         .                         .  216 

Bosworth,  Lieut.  Charles  G.                     .                         .                         .  83 

Braley,  Dr.  Bradford                      ...  129 

Braley,  Judge  Henry  K.                            ...  121 

Briggs,  Dr.  Charles  A.                    .                         .                        .  lol 

Briggs,  Capt.  Chester  W.                          ...  84 

Bristol  County          .                         .                         .                        .  218 
Bullock,  Dr.  Jesse               .                         .                        .                         .124 

Bump,  Dr.  Thomas                         .                         .                         .  126 

Burbank,  Rev.  John           ....  244 

Burr,  Capt.  James  W.                     .                         .                         .          •  85 

Carpenter,  Dr.  William                             .                        .                        .  124 

CHURCH   HISTORY                   .                         .                        .  29 

Church,  Christian                ....  243 

Congregational                 .                         .                         .  245 
CLAMBAKE,  THE  ASSONET           .                         .                        .50 

Clerks,  List  of  Town                                               .                         .  135 

Cudworth,  Capt.  Darius  A.                       .                         .                     .    .  86 

Cushman,  Hercules                         .                         .                        .  118 

Deane,  Major  John  M.                                ...  88 

Deane,  Mary  Gray                          ...  96 

Deed  of  Freemen's  Purchase                   .                         .                         .  212 

Duffee,  Lieut.  George                    .                         .                        .  113 

East  Freetown                     ....  221 

283 


Eddy,  William  H.                            .                        .  119 

Fairs,  Assonet                     ....  231 

Fire  Department                              .                         .  228 

Francis,  Lieut.  Hinnphrey  A.                                           .  .               97 

FREEMEN'S  PURCHASE  Ye                         .                         .  3 

Freemen's  Purchase,  Deed  of                  .                         .  .             212 

Freetown,  Battle  of                         .                         .                         .  216 

Freetown,  Population                                 .                         .  .219 

Valuation,  1831             ...  219 

1861                        .  .             220 

1902             ...  220 

FREETOWN,  MASS  ,  1683-1780           .                         .  .11 

General  Notes          ,                         .                         .                         .  243 

Gilbert's  Letter,  Col.  Thomas                  .                        .  .             215 

Gold  Fever                ....  237 

Governor                               .                         .                         .  .155 

Governor's  Council,  List  of  Members                 .                         .  155 

Gun  Manufactory              .                          .                         .  .165 

Haskins,  Sergeant  Charles  R.                               .                         .  97 

Haskins,  Lieut.  Urial  M.                           ...  99 

Haskins,  Lieut.  Ephraim  H.                                 .                         .  113 

Hathaway,  Washington                             .                         .  .117 

Hathaway,  Joseph                           .                        .                         .  119 

Hatheway,  Elnathan  P.                              ...  120 

Hhtheway,  Nicholas                        .                         .                         .  120 

Hatheway,  Dr.  Nicholas                            .                         .  .125 

Hatheway,  Dr.  Edmund  V.          .                         .                         .  129 

Hatheway,  Dr.  Joseph  C.                          .                         .  .             129 

Holmes   George  B.  N.                    .                         .                         .  117 

INDENTURE,   AN          .                         .                         .  .27 

INDUSTRIES                                 .                                                 .  158 

Lawton,  Chief  Engineer  Elbridge          .                         .  .             100 

Lawton,  Chief  Engineer  Andrew                         ,                         .  101 

LAWYERS                         .                         .                         .  .117 

Leonard,  William  A                                                .                         .  117 

LIBRARY,  GUILFORD  H.   HATHAWAY             .  .               69 

Livermore,  Harriet                        ...  28 

Map  of  Assonet  River                                .                         .  .             2  i4 

Marble,  Capt.  John  \V.                    .                         .                         .  102 

Mariners                                .                         .                        .  .196 

Masters  of  Vessels                           .                         .                         .  202 

Mathewson,  Capt.  James  R.                     .                         .  .113 

MILITARY  HISTORY               ...  72 
Ministers,  List  of 

Town  Church                            .                         .  .46 

Assonet  Baptist  Church                                               .  46 

Assonet  Christian  Church                               .  .               46 

Assonet  North  Church                         .                         .  48 
283 


Morton,  Judge  James  M. 
Morton,  Governor  Marcus 
Morton,  Rev.  Albert  G. 
Mvister  Ground 

Ode,  by  Herbert  E.  Hathaway 
OLD  HOME  FESTIVAL 
Oration, — Curtis  Guild,  Jr. 
Pastimes 

Pickens,  George  W. 
Pierce,  Gen.  Ebenezer  W. 
Poem, — "Our  Old  Home" 
PHYSICIANS 
Postmasters,  List  of 
Railroad  Accidents 
Read,  Capt.  William 
Representatives,  List  of 
Resolutions  of  the  Executive  Committee 
Richmond,  Col.  Silas  P. 
RECORD  AND  TRADITION 
Roads,  Good 
Sayles,  Lieut.  John  A. 
SCHOOL  HISTORY 
School  Committee,  List  of 
Selectmen,  List  of 
Senators,  List  of 
SHIPPING  INDUSTRY 
Shipping  and  Commerce 
SLAVE  TRADE  IN  FREETOWN 
Soldiers'  Graves,  List  of 
Sproat,  Dr.  Henry  H 
Store,  Old  Corner 
Temperance  Societies 
Tinkham,  Ensign  H.  Elbridge 
Town  Records,  From  the 
Transportation,  Early 
Later 
Treasurers,  List  of 
Turner,  Dr.  John 

Vessels  Hailing  from  Freetown,  List  of 
War  Movement  of  Revolution,  First 
Wetherell,  Capt.  Hiram  B. 
Wilkinson,  Ezra 
Williams,  Capt    George  D. 
Wmslow,  Lieut.  George  H. 


123 

157 

157 

228 

258 

250 

271 

226 

248 

103 

275 

123 

152 

224 

106 

153 

281 

107 

212 

225 

113 

53 

149 

135 

155 

170 

192 

25 

114 

130 

238 

110 

221 

221 

223 

135 

124 

174 

215 

114 

119 

111 

113 

284 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE 

Barnaby  Homestead  .  •  •  .6 

Barnaby,  Residence  of  Mrs.  Samuel  S.  .  •  49 

Briggs,  Residence  of  Dr.  C.  A.  .  •  •  133 

Bm-t,  Residence  of  Dea.  Benj.     ...  37 

Christian  Church,  E.  Freetown  .  •  .43 

Christian  Church  and  Parsonage  ■  ■  41 

Clambake  Grove  .  •  •  .50 

Congregational  Church  -  ■  •  44 

Congregational  Parsonage  .  •  .41 

Dean,  Residence  of  William 
Deane,  Residence  of  Maj.  John  M.  ■  93,  94,  95 

158 
169 
169 
199 
223 
15 
161 


East  Bridge 

Four  Corners,  Looking  North 

Four  Corners,  Looking  South 

Francis,  Residence  of  Ralph  H. 

Freetown  Records,  Facsimile 

Gilbert,  Home  of  Col.  Thomas 

Grist  Mill  at  Tisdale's  Dam 

Gun  Manufactory                .  .                         .                         •             165 

Hathaway,  Homestead  of  Capt.  Welcome         .  .                         191 

Library          .                         .  ■                         •                         .69 

Morton,  Birthplace  of  Governor  .                         .                        156 

Old  Man  of  Joshua's  Mountain  .                         •                         .9 

Pierce,  Residence  of  Gen.  E.  W.  .                         .                         104 

PORTRAITS  — 

Aiken,  B.  F.             .  •                       •                        .51 

Allen,  Capt.  Granville  S.  .                         •              •           151 

Ashley,  Capt.  Albert  B.  .                         .                        .83 

Bacon,  Rev.  L.  W.               ...  39 

Batchelor,  Rev.  Benjamin  .                         .                         .33 

Bosworth,  Lieut.  Chas.  G.  .                        •                          83 

Boynton,  Rev.  Francis  H.  .                         •                        .48 

Braley,  Charles                     .  .                         •                        143 

Briggs,  Dr.  Charles  A.  .                         .                         •             131 

Briggs.  Lieut.  Chester  W.  .                        .                          84 

Bump,  Dr.  Thomas  .                         .126 

Burns,  Paul  M.                     .  .                        •                        164 

Burr,  Capt.  James  W.  .                         .                         .85 

Burt,  Dea.  Benjamin           ...  37 

Bur  bank,  Rev.  John  .                         .                        .344 

285 


PORTRAITS  —  Continued 
Canada,  Rev.  P.  A. 
Crowell,  Mrs.  J.  F. 
Cudworth,  Capt.  Darius  A. 
Cudworth,  George  B. 
Davis,  N.  R.  . 

Davi^,  N.  \V. 
Davis,  W.  A.  . 

Deane,  Jolin  M. 
Deane,  Lieut.  John   M. 
Deane,  Major  John  M. 
Deane,  Mary  Gray 
Duncan,  Rev.  A.  G. 
Evans,  John  H.        . 
Evans,  Philip  H. 
Francis,  Lieut.  Humphrey  A. 
Francis,  Ralph  H. 
Guild,  Curtis,  Jr. 
Hall,  George  W. 
Haskins,  Lieut.  Urial  M. 
Hathaway,  Capt.  Welcome 
Hathaway,  Alden,  Jr. 
Hathaway,  Guilford  H. 
King,  Sinia  W. 

Lawton,  Chief  Engineer  Elbridge 
Leeburn,  Thomas 
Marble,  Capt.  John  W. 
Morton,  Rev.  Albert  G. 
Morton,  Gov.  Marcus 
Nichols,  Dr.  Thomas  G. 
Nichols,  Gilbert  M. 
Pickens,  George  W, 
Pierce,  Gen.  Ebenezer  W. 
Pierce,  Palo  Alto 
Piummer,  Rev.  Frederic 
Plummer,  Rachael  H. 
Porter,  Nathaniel, 
Read,  Capt.  Washington, 
Read,  Capt.  William 
Richmond,  Col.  Silas  P. 
Sproat,  Dr    Henry  H. 
Taylor    Rev.  James 
Taylor,  Joseph  S. 
Tinkham,  Ensign  H   Elbridge, 
Washburn,  Reuel, 
Wil.'^on,  John  D. 
Williams,  Capt    George  D. 
Winslow,  Lieut,  (ieorge  H. 

2H6 


47 

71 

86 

143 

166 

167 

167 

261 

88 

89 

96 

48 

143 

148 

97 

168 

271 

151 

99 

173 

151 

70 

37 

100 

52 

102 

156 

156 

128 

143 

248 

103 

134 

33 

33 

227 

198 

106 

107 

130 

33 

134 

110 

151 

71 

111 

113 


Read,  Residence  of  Capt.  Washington  .                         .                         199 

Richmond  Residence  .                         .                             .             1O8 

Richmond  Landing  .                         .                         .                         lO!) 

Saw  Mill  at  Tisdale's  Dam  .                         .                         .             160 

South  Main  Street  ...                           3 

South  School  House,  Old  .                         .                                         64 

Taylor,  Residence  of  J.  S.  .                         .                         .                         134 

Town  House,  Old               .  .                         .                        .61 

Town  Hall  .                         .                         .                         133 

Winslow  House                   .  .                         .                         .19 


287 


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